EU Commissioner Marta Kos: Albania Meets Key Interim Standards
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos says that Albania has met the interim benchmarks for the fundamental cluster, marking an important step in the country’s EU accession process. In a post on X, Kos also says that Albania receives a positive assessment in the IBAR report. She says the Cypriot …
Freedom of Information Still Impeded in Western Balkans, Report Warns
Despite robust legal frameworks, public institutions in the region are finding new ways to obstruct transparency, a new BIRN report finds. Original post Here
Fish Market in Vlora to Modernize Fisheries and Boost the Blue Economy
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Andis Salla and Vlora Mayor Brunilda Mersini visited the new facility after the Municipality of Vlora took ownership. The government invested €1.5 million in the project. The market covers 1,300 square meters and includes 15 cold storage rooms. It connects directly to the Fishing …
Albanian Parliament Approves New Law and Several Resolutions
Albania’s Parliament approved a new draft law and several resolutions during a plenary session on Tuesday. Lawmakers passed a law that strengthens official controls on food and animal feed safety, animal health and welfare, plant health, and plant protection products. The measure received 74 votes in favor. Parliament also approved …
Albania Strengthens Naval Industry Training for Young People
Albania has signed a new cooperation memorandum to strengthen skills and employment for young people in the naval industry. The state company KAYO, the Italian company FINCANTIERI, and the Industrial School “Pavarësia” in Vlora signed the agreement at the Pashaliman Naval Base. The deal focuses on internships, training programs, and …
Deadly Minibus Crash on Tirana–Durrës Highway Leaves One Dead and Several Injured
A serious accident occurred on Tuesday on the Tirana–Durrës highway, when a minibus on the Berat–Tirana line left the road and overturned. Emergency teams responded immediately. Police, firefighters, and ambulance crews arrived at the scene and rescued passengers while providing first aid to the injured. Authorities first reported two deaths …
Albania Officials React to Fatal Tirana–Durrës Highway Accident
Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu has expressed condolences after a tragic accident on the Tirana–Durrës highway left one person dead and several others injured. In a statement on social media, Koçiu described the news as “shocking” and offered her deepest condolences to the family of the victim. She also expressed …
Reinier de Graaf Explains Reinier de Graaf
Tirana Times, June 30, 2026 – When Tirana Times published Reinier de Graaf’s open letter from The Albanian Files, it did so because the text had already become one of the most discussed and controversial passages of the book. The letter, written in March 2025, appeared to call, in deliberately provocative …
Albania Moves to Revive Naval Industry Through Fincantieri Partnership
On June 30, 2026, Albania signed a cooperation memorandum in Vlora with Italy’s Fincantieri, one of Europe’s leading shipbuilders, in a move aimed at reviving naval production at the Pashaliman base and strengthening the country’s defence industrial capacity. The memorandum, signed between the Albanian state company KAYO, Fincantieri and the …
Are Europe’s Star Architects Helping Launder Albania’s Criminal Economy?
The Albanian Files suggests that international architecture may have served not only as design, but as a prestigious façade for opaque money, captured institutions and one-man rule. Tirana Times, June 29, 2026 – A glossy architectural volume meant to celebrate Albania’s transformation has unexpectedly become one of the most revealing …
Edi Rama defends concert planned for Saturday by controversial US rapper, saying it will transform Tirana for a day into a ‘global capital of music’. Original post Here
Environmental Website A well-known environmental website has highlighted the Vjosa as Europe’s last major wild river, emphasizing its unique natural and cultural value. According to the Italian environmental platform LifeGate, the Vjosa River Basin remains one of the few places in Europe where water still flows freely and without barriers. …
The Parliamentary Youth Club and ten newly elected members of Albania’s Parliament completed a three-day study visit to the European Parliament as part of the Young Political Leaders (YPL) Programme for the Western Balkans. The European Parliament invited the delegation to take part in the visit, which took place from …
Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media today showing the construction of a stadium in Kashar for the upcoming concert of Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. According to Rama, organizers built the venue specifically for what he described as the largest concert ever held in Albania. He …
The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet hosted a special concert last night featuring Hollywood film scores composed by Albanian composer Aldo Shllaku. The TKOB Symphony Orchestra and Choir performed Shllaku’s compositions, bringing to life music that has accompanied some of Hollywood’s most recognized films. Under the composer’s own direction, …
Albania honors the memory of Aleks Buda, one of the country’s most influential historians and scholars, on the anniversary of his passing on July 7, 1993. Buda left a rich intellectual legacy and established himself as a leading figure in Albanian historiography and academic life. As the first president of …
Albanian Alps attract thousands of domestic and international visitors as mountain tourism continues to grow during the summer season. In early July, visitors explore the National Park of the Albanian Alps, drawn by its spectacular landscapes, hiking routes, and unique natural attractions. Moreover, foreign tourists choose the region for outdoor …
TIRANA, July 7 – Tirana will host an international music event on Saturday, July 11, as Kanye West, also known as Ye, performs in the capital. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of the stadium under construction in Kashar, on the outskirts of Tirana. Organisers are preparing the venue specifically …
TIRANA, July 7 – Albania is expected to join 9 NATO allies in signing an agreement to establish the Defence Bank during the Alliance’s summit in Ankara. The new financial mechanism will support investments in the defence industry, military technologies, and the strengthening of member states’ defence capabilities. From Ankara, …
TIRANA, July 7 – Around 300 students from different countries have joined the 25th edition of the International Summer University of Prishtina. The University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina” opened the programme near the Rectorate. Institutional representatives, international guests, professors, and students attended the opening event. This year’s edition includes cultural …