Medieval Center of Berat: A Journey Through the City’s Ottoman Past
Berat attracts large numbers of tourists, and visitors often outnumber locals in its historic quarters such as Mangalem, Gorica, and the Castle area. First, the article shows how tourism now shapes daily life in the city, while residents themselves continue to rediscover parts of their cultural heritage. Next, the restored …
Ambassador Bergner: Germany supports Albania’s EU integration process and rule-of-law standards
TIRANA, July 6 – German Ambassador to Albania, Karl Bergner, said on Monday that Germany supports Albania’s path toward European Union integration. He underlined the importance of shared European values during remarks on the country’s reform process. Bergner said Albania’s citizens broadly align with EU principles. He stressed support for …
National programme aims to boost business competitiveness for the European single market
TIRANA, July 6 – A national programme for preparing businesses for European Union integration was presented on Monday in Tirana. The initiative aims to support Albanian enterprises in adapting to the European single market. Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said Albania is carrying out extensive reforms to meet EU …
Electricity demand rises in summer as Electricity Distribution System Operator upgrades power grid in Durrës
TIRANA, July 6 (Monday) – The Electricity Distribution System Operator (OSHEE) has completed works on several key sections of the electricity network in Durrës. The company said the interventions aim to strengthen the security of electricity supply. OSHEE Group, the Albanian electricity distribution company, said the works covered the Currila …
Marubi Museum expands exhibition programme for anniversary year
TIRANA, July 6 – The Marubi Museum continues to welcome visitors with the exhibition “Gjon Mili: Retrospective”, part of its 10th anniversary programme. The institution said it will host more exhibitions than usual this year. Museum director Luçjan Bedeni said visitors will have access to new exhibitions in the coming …
Sovereign guarantee and financing package to support businesses preparing for EU single market
TIRANA, July 6 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Monday that the government will support businesses as Albania advances toward European Union membership. He spoke during the presentation of a national programme for preparing businesses for EU integration. Addressing the process, Rama said the government backs enterprises facing the …
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: July 6, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Second phase of soft loan scheme opens, applications due by July 31, official says
TIRANA, July 6 – The second phase of the municipal soft loan scheme opened on July 1 after the completion of the first stage, a city official said. He said 2,500 applicants were approved in the first phase out of 4,909 applications. However, he added that several applicants were excluded …
Turkey at the centre of global diplomacy as Ankara hosts NATO Summit on 7 July, agenda revealed
TIRANA, July 6 – Turkey will host the 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government in Ankara on 7 July. The meeting takes place amid global uncertainty. Ankara last hosted a NATO summit in Istanbul in 2004. Meanwhile, the summit will gather 32 heads of state and government. …
Preza Castle: Where History and Nature Meet in a Peaceful Landscape
Just a few kilometers from Tirana, Preza Castle rises on a green hill, and it stands as one of the most distinctive historical and panoramic sites in the area. First, visitors reach the castle through a rural landscape, and they pass traditional houses and green hills that create a calm …
Rama says Kanye West concert showcased Albania as a safe destination for major events and investment
Prime Minister Edi Rama said the Kanye West concert demonstrated that Albania can successfully host major international events in a safe and welcoming environment. He said the event sent a positive message to international visitors and investors by showing that Albania remains a secure destination for tourism, business and large-scale …
American rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, thanked Prime Minister Edi Rama and the people of Albania for their hospitality following his performance at Eagle Stadium in Tirana. In a social media post, West wrote, “Thank you Edi Rama and all of Albania for building a stadium and for …
Tirana hosted Kanye West’s first-ever concert in Albania, marking a milestone for the country’s live entertainment industry. Thousands of fans from Albania, Kosovo and across Europe traveled to the capital to attend the performance. Throughout the evening, West performed some of his biggest hits, while spectacular visuals and stage effects …
Prime Minister Edi Rama expressed condolences following the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, describing him as a visionary statesman and a historic leader of Qatar. In a social media message, Rama praised Sheikh Hamad’s role in transforming Qatar and laying the foundations for the country’s remarkable development. …
New York City has officially added “Little Albania” to its map of immigrant neighborhoods, recognizing the important role of the Albanian community in the city’s cultural and social life. The city included the Bronx neighborhood among 30 areas across New York’s five boroughs that represent diverse immigrant communities and their …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again defended the upcoming Kanye West concert in Tirana, scheduled for Saturday evening. In a post on social media, Rama shared footage of the completed concert venue, saying the stadium is ready and that the event will place Albania on the global map of music fans. The prime …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:e5659a20-7ccd-4ac7-ac8b-8f8f08377e9a-28″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:e5659a20-7ccd-4ac7-ac8b-8f8f08377e9a-28″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-58″ data-turn=”assistant”> Visitors to the southeastern Albanian region of Kolonja are not only exploring its natural attractions and cultural heritage sites, but also learning how to prepare traditional dishes before enjoying them. Cooking alongside local residents has become one of the area’s most popular experiences …
Albania’s Competition Authority has launched a market monitoring process focused on the retail sale of essential grocery products, following complaints from citizens and concerns raised by members of parliament over the prices of everyday consumer goods. According to an official statement, the monitoring will cover the country’s main supermarket chains …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again reacted to negative online reviews, this time sharing a video highlighting critical ratings of Rozafa Castle in Shkodra. The prime minister said such posts are harming Albania’s tourism sector and expressed hope that prosecutors will swiftly take action against those he described as individuals who …
Prime Minister Edi Rama met with young people in Jalë on Saturday, where he discussed the recent protests and the impact of social media algorithms. Rama said algorithms play a significant role in amplifying negativity, online noise and manipulated content, describing such videos as “fuel added to a fire” that, he argued, was started by …