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“EU is closer to us”, Rama: Growth plan, key platform for integration

In the joint media conference with Commissioner Varhelyi, Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that the EU is now closer to the Western Balkans. Rama estimated that the economic growth plan is a key platform to accelerate European integration. “Welcome to Tirana, all of you who come from the region. I …

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Rama: All WB countries said “yes” to possibility of cooperation, investments in arms production

Prime Minister Edi Rama, commented Thursday the declaration of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy for potential joint arms production. In the press conference with the EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi at the end of the Growth and Convergence for the Western Balkans Summit, Rama said that “Albania does not …

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Regional summit on the growth and convergence plan to take place Thursday

Another Summit will take place on Thursday in Albania. The Regional Summit on the Growth and Convergence Plan with have a focus on the integration of the Western Balkans towards the European Union, as well as the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. This summit will also …

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Summit on the EU’s economic growth plan for the region, Western Balkan leaders gathers in Tirana

Today the leaders of the Western Balkan countries and the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, will gather for the regional summit on the European Union’s economic growth plan for the region. The EU’s plan for the Western Balkans aims at the economic advancement of the region, accelerating necessary reforms, …

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Rama: Let’s take the necessary steps near the union, otherwise we will fail

Prime Minister Edi Rama, in the opening speech of the summit between the EU and the Western Balkans on the new growth plan, emphasized that the union must find new ways to help the region. He emphasized that the necessary steps must be taken to join the union, otherwise we …

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Rama: In June we apply for the euro payment area

In June, Albania intends to apply to the common euro payments area. The statement was made by Prime Minister Rama, during his speech at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana. In his speech, Rama said that Albania will work hard to carry out this exercise, as he considered, not easy. …

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NAPOKON …. SË FUNDI… КОНЕЧНО

By Marko Čadež As of 1 March this year, citizens of Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia will FINALLY be able to live and work in any of the three countries as in their own. In boring bureaucratic words “The Agreement on the Conditions for Free Access to the Labor Market …

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In Tirana summit, Ukrainian President Zelensky thanks Albania for support, seeks joint munitions production

TIRANA, Feb. 28, 2024 – Making his first visit to Albania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Balkan nations, and Albania in particular, for support in countering Russian aggression in his country, calling specifically for cooperation in munitions production, which Ukraine urgently needs in its fight against Russia.  He made the …

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Rama-Zelensky discuss over potential joint arms production

The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama and Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with each-other even for a possibility of joint arms production. Ukrainian President, Zelenskyy said after the meeting that since the first days of the full-scale invasion, Albania has supported Ukraine in our struggle for freedom and territorial integrity. …

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Rama: Zelensky’s presence is a reminder that Putin has not succeeded

Prime Minister Edi Rama has again expressed Albania’s support for Ukraine, regarding its war against Russia. During his speech at the Summit for Ukraine in Tirana, Rama declared that Zelensky’s presence is a reminder that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not succeeded. “This is a war that neither Ukraine nor …

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Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here

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Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …

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Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 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

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Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …

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Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

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Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

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The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

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Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …

News
Share Your Experience: Child Support Payments After Divorce in the Balkans, France

Do you live in the Balkans or France, and have you been awarded child support payments after divorce? Was the process easy – and did you receive the money as the court ordered? Original post Here

News

Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here

News

Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …

News

Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 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

News

Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …

News

Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

News

Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

News

The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

News

Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …

News

Share Your Experience: Child Support Payments After Divorce in the Balkans, France

Do you live in the Balkans or France, and have you been awarded child support payments after divorce? Was the process easy – and did you receive the money as the court ordered? Original post Here