Draft Law introduces new museum and heritage rules, grants for privately owned monuments
TIRANA, Nov 6 /ATA/ Museums, cultural monuments and other cultural heritage sites across the country will be subject to new rules governing their administration, maintenance and restoration. The draft law on several additions and amendments to the Law “On Cultural Heritage and Museums”, published for public consultation by the Ministry of …
Albanian Customs takes part in regional operation targeting illicit financial flows
TIRANA, Nov 6 /ATA/ The closing meeting of the Regional Operation “NELSON”, aimed at tackling the illegal movement of cash and high-value goods, took place at the headquarters of the Southeast European Law Enforcement Centre (SELEC) in Bucharest. The Albanian Customs Administration, working alongside the State Police, actively participated in the …
Bylykbashi calls for fundamental electoral system reform and open lists in elections
TIRANA, Nov 6 /ATA/ Oerd Bylykbashi, co-chair of the Electoral Reform Commission, today called for the reform process to focus on implementing the recommendations of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), describing the establishment of a level playing field as the key to ensuring free and fair …
Hoxha: Regional cooperation and European integration must go hand in hand
TIRANA, Nov 6 /ATA/ Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha took part in the Ministerial Meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI), held in Bucharest, Romania. Amid profound shifts in Europe’s security and geopolitical landscape, regional cooperation is more important than ever, according to the Foreign Minister. “The CEI remains a valuable platform …
Rama announces new inspection framework for 2027, unannounced checks to be phased out
TIRANA, Nov 6 /ATA/ The 32nd Tirana International Fair (TIF32) featured a conference with the participation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and Economy Minister Delina Ibrahimaj, providing foreign businesses and prospective investors with guidance on Albania’s legal requirements, regulatory standards and inspection procedures. The conference featured three thematic panels focusing …
Dutch Ambassador: Protests reflect social tensions, violence is unacceptable
TIRANA, Nov 6 /ATA/ Dutch Ambassador Marleen Monster said Albania’s protests reflect public discontent and social tensions, stressing that while citizens have the right to demonstrate, violence is unacceptable. During a visit to Korçë, where she met with law enforcement representatives to discuss media freedom, Monster stressed that citizens have …
Gonxhja holds talks with World Bank Director on Sustainable Tourism Development
TIRANA, Nov 6 /ATA/ Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Blendi Gonxhja today held a meeting with Xiaoqing Yu, the World Bank’s Country Director for the Western Balkans, and other representatives of the institution. Gonxhja said the discussions focused on the progress of reforms and projects aimed at increasing tourism’s economic …
Albania and India explore new avenues for tourism cooperation
TIRANA, Nov 6 /ATA/ On the sidelines of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2026 international tourism fair, National Tourism Agency Director-General Jola Hysaj held a meeting with India’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The talks focused on strengthening tourism relations and cooperation between Albania and India through …
US ambassador Eric Wendt outlines priorities for Albania: defence, investment and security
United States Ambassador Eric Wendt has outlined his priorities in a video message posted on X. He identified defence, economic prosperity and security as the main areas for cooperation. He also thanked President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their trust, along with the Albanian people for …
Albania and Kosova hold joint mountain search and rescue exercise
Personnel from Albania’s Civil Emergencies Support Base and the Kosova Security Force held a joint mountain search and rescue exercise in Prevalla, near Prizren. According to Defence Minister Ermal Nufi, the exercise took place from 2 to 5 November. Participants exchanged experience, tested new equipment and practised rescue techniques in …
Albania’s 2027 draft budget will support European Union accession negotiations and prepare the country for membership, State Minister and Chief Negotiator Majlinda Dhuka said on Tuesday. Speaking to the Assembly’s Committee on European Affairs and Foreign Policy, Dhuka said Albania had opened all negotiating chapters, received a positive assessment of …
Albania’s European identity, cultural heritage and aspirations for the future will take centre stage during Albania’s European Week in Ottawa in 2026. The Embassy of the Republic of Albania to Canada will organise the event in collaboration with the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the University of Ottawa. …
Interior Minister Ervin Demo said police success depends on how safe citizens feel, how well authorities protect young people and how effectively they restrict criminal groups’ activities. Speaking at a joint conference of the State Police and Italy’s Guardia di Finanza on 2026 aerial monitoring results, Demo praised 15 years …
Interior Minister Ervin Demo said Albania plays an active role in Europe’s security architecture and in tackling cross-border threats. He made the remarks opening the international conference “Regional security: New risks, stronger cooperation” in Tirana. The event brought together Regional Cooperation Council Secretary-General Amer Kapetanović, Italian Interior Ministry representatives, the …
The European Union Ambassador to Tirana, Sofia Moreira de Sousa, held a meeting with representatives of civil society organizations, during which she presented the 2026 Albania Report. In a post published on Tuesday, the EU Delegation announced that the meeting addressed issues related to the environment, transparency, land ownership rights, …
Aerial monitoring and the use of modern surveillance equipment have increased the Guardia di Finanza’s ability to identify suspected cannabis cultivation sites in Albania. During a joint press conference with the Albanian State Police, a representative of the Italian authorities emphasized that cooperation between the two sides has delivered concrete …
The Transparency Board decided to reduce fuel prices during its meeting on Tuesday. During the meeting, the Board decided that gasoline will be sold at no more than 167 lek per liter, while diesel will be sold at no more than 208 lek per liter. “The retail price of diesel …
For the first time, PET scan examinations will be publicly funded. The project has been included in the draft 2027 budget, with an allocation of 250 million lek, and approximately 2,500 patients are expected to benefit from the service. The announcement was made by the Minister of Health and Social …
Albania recorded positive natural population growth in the third quarter of 2026, with 742 more births than deaths. According to data from INSTAT, a total of 5,787 births and 5,045 deaths were registered during this period. However, the birth rate continues to decline. Compared to the same period in 2025, …
Around 450,000 to 500,000 citizens across Albania use public transport, but the cost of the service and the tax burden on operators risk becoming even heavier. This concern was raised by the National Association of Urban Transport in a letter addressed to Parliament, outlining a series of requests for tax …