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Albania and Bulgaria discuss expanding cooperation in economy, energy and tourism

TIRANA, June 11 – Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania Ferit Hoxha met in Sofia with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Mihaela Dotsova. The two sides reaffirmed the strong partnership between Albania and Bulgaria during the meeting. They also confirmed a joint commitment to expand …

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Weather forecast: Clear skies with passing clouds, rain returns in the afternoon

TIRANA, June 11 – Albania will experience relatively unstable atmospheric conditions today. The weather will remain mostly clear with light to moderate passing cloudiness in eastern mountainous areas from midday. Later in the evening, cloud cover will increase across the north and gradually spread to the rest of the country. …

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Kosovo Women Qualify for 2027 World Cup Play-Off

The Kosovo women’s national team achieved a historic milestone. They qualified for the 2027 World Cup play-off stage. They also secured promotion to League B for the next qualification cycle. First, Kosovo delivered a dominant performance against Gibraltar. They won the match 8–0 away from home. They closed their Group …

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“Le Routard” guide highlights Albania as an emerging destination of nature, culture and hospitality

TIRANA, June 11 – The French travel guide “Le Routard” presents Albania as an emerging European destination that combines natural landscapes, cultural heritage and authentic local experiences. In a feature published by “Le Guide du Routard,” journalist Noemie Adler describes the country as gaining growing international attention while remaining largely …

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27 years since the end of Serbian military presence in Kosova

TIRANA, June 11 – Today marks 27 years since the withdrawal of Serbian military and paramilitary forces from Kosova. The event ended Serbian control over the territory. Serbian forces withdrew after sustained resistance from the Kosovo Liberation Army on the ground. NATO air operations also contributed to the outcome. The …

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Albania adopts national plan for persons with disabilities 2026–2030 worth over ALL 7.6 billion and 68 priority measures

TIRANA, June 11 – The Council of Ministers has approved the National Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities 2026–2030. The document defines the policy framework for rights protection, social inclusion and independent living for persons with disabilities over the next five years. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare prepared …

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Writer and Albanian Society: Dialogue Between Visar Zhiti and Stefan Çapaliku at the Academy of Sciences

A public dialogue took place today at the Academy of Sciences in Tirana. Writers Visar Zhiti and Stefan Çapaliku took part. Journalist Beti Njuma moderated the discussion. First, Çapaliku opened the debate. He described the relationship between writers and society as problematic. He said writers rarely feel comfortable with society. …

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“A typical day” in the stone city of Gjirokastër attracts year-round tourism

TIRANA, June 11 – The stone city of Gjirokastër remains one of Albania’s most sought-after destinations. The city also forms part of the country’s year-round tourism offer. Domestic and international visitors explore Gjirokastër for its history and cultural heritage. The destination also offers attractions suited to different age groups and …

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Korça Archaeological Museum building restored and ready for visitors

TIRANA, June 11 – Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja and Korça Mayor Sotiraq Filo visited the Korça Archaeological Museum following the completion of restoration works. The building is now ready to welcome visitors. The Korça Archaeological Museum operates in the historic residence of Fani Pjasto. The property …

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Weapons and Technology Reserve Established for the Armed Forces

The Council of Ministers has approved a new decision to create a reserve of weapons and technological equipment for the Armed Forces. First, the reserve will be supplied by licensed companies operating in the production and trade of arms and military technology. Then, the proposal was submitted by the Minister …

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EU Enlargement Commissioner: Albania Takes Important Step Toward EU Membership

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that Albania has recently made significant progress on its path toward European Union membership. According to Kos, Albania met the Interim Benchmarks Assessment Report (IBAR) requirements on the rule of law. As a result, the country can now begin the process of closing …

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European Parliament Reaffirms Support for Albania’s EU Path, Says Schieder

Andreas Schieder said the European Parliament will reaffirm Albania’s strong commitment to the European Union. Speaking during a plenary session of the European Parliament, Schieder praised Albania’s progress in the accession process. He noted that the country opened all negotiation clusters within just 13 months. In addition, Albania recently achieved …

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Kosovo and European Commission Review EU Support and Reform Progress

Kosovo and the European Commission held the annual meeting of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Monitoring Committee. The meeting focused on the implementation of EU financial and technical support for Kosovo. In addition, participants reviewed reforms that support Kosovo’s path toward European integration. Since 2007, the European Union has …

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Germany Reaffirms Strong Support for Albania’s EU Membership

Ferit Hoxha met with Günter Krichbaum during his visit to Luxembourg. The two officials discussed Albania’s path toward European Union membership. They also reviewed the current momentum of the EU enlargement process. Furthermore, Hoxha said they exchanged views on the opportunities created by the renewed focus on enlargement across Europe. …

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The False Civil Society and the Real One

In Albania, real civic society is no longer in donor-funded conference rooms. It is in the streets. By Mrika Temali Tirana Times, June 16, 2026 – Thirty-five years after the fall of communism, Albania offers a bitter paradox. The European Union, Western governments and international foundations have spent millions indeed …

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UEFA Inspects Albania’s Stadiums Ahead of EURO U-21 2027

UEFA representatives continued inspections in Albania as preparations advance for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2027, which Albania will co-host. First, UEFA experts visited stadiums over a four-day inspection tour. They assessed technical and operational readiness for the tournament. They focused on lighting systems, backup generators, security measures, and other …

News
Housing prices continue to rise as tourism drives property market demand

TIRANA, June 16 – Housing prices in Albania continued to rise during 2025. At the same time, transaction volumes fell in the second half of the year. The Bank of Albania said the trend requires more time and data to determine whether it reflects a slowdown or a correction after …

News
Fuel prices cut, diesel at 180 ALL per litre, petrol at 168 ALL per litre

TIRANA, June 16 – The Transparency Board has decided to reduce fuel prices in Albania. It cut diesel by 3 ALL per litre and petrol by 2 ALL per litre. Under the decision, diesel will sell at a maximum retail price of 180 ALL per litre. The board set the …

News
Albania U-19 Draw Armenia and Cyprus in Euro 2027 Qualifiers

Albania’s U-19 national team learned its opponents for the second round of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship 2027 qualifiers. UEFA held the draw in Nyon, Switzerland. It placed Albania U-19 in Group 6 of League B. First, Albania will face Armenia and Cyprus in the group stage. The team will …

News
US signals “adjustment of contribution” to KFOR mission

TIRANA, June 16 – The United States is expected to adjust its contribution to NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosova. The move comes as part of a broader review of the Alliance’s military presence in the country. A US European Command (EUCOM) official told Radio Free Europe that the decision follows …

News

EU Enlargement Commissioner: Albania Takes Important Step Toward EU Membership

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that Albania has recently made significant progress on its path toward European Union membership. According to Kos, Albania met the Interim Benchmarks Assessment Report (IBAR) requirements on the rule of law. As a result, the country can now begin the process of closing …

News

European Parliament Reaffirms Support for Albania’s EU Path, Says Schieder

Andreas Schieder said the European Parliament will reaffirm Albania’s strong commitment to the European Union. Speaking during a plenary session of the European Parliament, Schieder praised Albania’s progress in the accession process. He noted that the country opened all negotiation clusters within just 13 months. In addition, Albania recently achieved …

News

Kosovo and European Commission Review EU Support and Reform Progress

Kosovo and the European Commission held the annual meeting of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Monitoring Committee. The meeting focused on the implementation of EU financial and technical support for Kosovo. In addition, participants reviewed reforms that support Kosovo’s path toward European integration. Since 2007, the European Union has …

News

Germany Reaffirms Strong Support for Albania’s EU Membership

Ferit Hoxha met with Günter Krichbaum during his visit to Luxembourg. The two officials discussed Albania’s path toward European Union membership. They also reviewed the current momentum of the EU enlargement process. Furthermore, Hoxha said they exchanged views on the opportunities created by the renewed focus on enlargement across Europe. …

News

The False Civil Society and the Real One

In Albania, real civic society is no longer in donor-funded conference rooms. It is in the streets. By Mrika Temali Tirana Times, June 16, 2026 – Thirty-five years after the fall of communism, Albania offers a bitter paradox. The European Union, Western governments and international foundations have spent millions indeed …

News

UEFA Inspects Albania’s Stadiums Ahead of EURO U-21 2027

UEFA representatives continued inspections in Albania as preparations advance for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2027, which Albania will co-host. First, UEFA experts visited stadiums over a four-day inspection tour. They assessed technical and operational readiness for the tournament. They focused on lighting systems, backup generators, security measures, and other …

News

Housing prices continue to rise as tourism drives property market demand

TIRANA, June 16 – Housing prices in Albania continued to rise during 2025. At the same time, transaction volumes fell in the second half of the year. The Bank of Albania said the trend requires more time and data to determine whether it reflects a slowdown or a correction after …

News

Fuel prices cut, diesel at 180 ALL per litre, petrol at 168 ALL per litre

TIRANA, June 16 – The Transparency Board has decided to reduce fuel prices in Albania. It cut diesel by 3 ALL per litre and petrol by 2 ALL per litre. Under the decision, diesel will sell at a maximum retail price of 180 ALL per litre. The board set the …

News

Albania U-19 Draw Armenia and Cyprus in Euro 2027 Qualifiers

Albania’s U-19 national team learned its opponents for the second round of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship 2027 qualifiers. UEFA held the draw in Nyon, Switzerland. It placed Albania U-19 in Group 6 of League B. First, Albania will face Armenia and Cyprus in the group stage. The team will …

News

US signals “adjustment of contribution” to KFOR mission

TIRANA, June 16 – The United States is expected to adjust its contribution to NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosova. The move comes as part of a broader review of the Alliance’s military presence in the country. A US European Command (EUCOM) official told Radio Free Europe that the decision follows …