State Police and U.S. ICITAP reaffirm 30-year strategic partnership
TIRANA, July 15 – The State Police and the U.S. International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) reaffirmed their strategic partnership, built over more than 30 years of cooperation. State Police Director General Skënder Hita met with ICITAP Europe and Asia Programme Representative Alexzandria Burns and ICITAP Albania Programme Director …
Book “100 Years of Theatre in Shkodra (1879–1979)” highlights a century of Albanian stage history
The book “100 Years of Theatre in Shkodra: 1879–1979” by author Andrea Skanjeti has been published by the Academy of Sciences of Albania, presenting a century-long history of theatre in Shkodra, one of the country’s most important cultural centres. Academic and playwright Stefan Çapaliku contributed to preparing the book for …
Deputy minister presents bill to strengthen Civil Society Support Agency
TIRANA, July 15 – Deputy Health and Social Protection Minister Denada Seferi presented a draft law to the parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Public Information. The bill proposes amendments to the law governing the Civil Society Support Agency. Seferi said the draft aims to strengthen the agency’s institutional role. …
UEFA Conference League, Vllaznia aims for second qualifying round spot
TIRANA, July 15 – Vllaznia will face Malisheva on Wednesday in the second leg of the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. The Shkodër-based team travels to Kosova with a 2-1 advantage from the first match at “Loro Boriçi” Stadium. Vllaznia conceded an early goal but reacted with …
PM Rama to Euronews Serbia: Kosovo and Metohija no longer exists, only the Republic of Kosova
TIRANA, July 15 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Serbia bears the main responsibility for the current deadlock in its dialogue with Kosova because it has not accepted what he described as the new reality. In an interview with Euronews Serbia, Rama said the term “Kosovo and Metohija” no longer …
FSHF: Major sporting events boost Albania’s international profile
The Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) says that hosting international sporting events helps promote Albania, develop tourism, and support economic growth. FSHF highlighted the UEFA Europa Conference League final held in Tirana in 2022 as a clear example of how major football events can benefit the country. The federation aims to …
Special prosecution chief: Electoral crime remains a concern, cases require evidence
TIRANA, July 15 – Electoral crime remains a serious concern, but prosecutors can file charges only when evidence supports them, Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime chief Klodjan Braho said on Tuesday. Braho made the remarks while reporting to Parliament’s Committee on Citizen Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight during …
Former Kosova Prime Minister: Albania’s success benefits all Albanians
TIRANA, July 15 – Former Kosova Prime Minister and Honorary President of the Alliance for the Future of Kosova, Ramush Haradinaj, welcomed Albania’s provisional closure of three European Union negotiation chapters, calling it an important achievement in the country’s integration process. In a social media post, Haradinaj said the milestone …
North Macedonia’s Democratic Union for Integration leader condemns Serbian minister’s remarks
TIRANA, July 15 – Ali Ahmeti, leader of the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration, a political party in North Macedonia, condemned remarks by Serbian minister Snezhana Paunovic. During a television interview, Paunovic said she would have ethnically cleansed Kosova in 1998 if she had been in Slobodan Milosevic’s position. …
Budget transparency improves, British Embassy highlights Albania’s progress
TIRANA, July 15 – Albania scored 64 out of 100 in the 2025 Open Budget Survey, ranking above the global transparency benchmark of 60 points and above the regional average. The British Embassy in Tirana, which shared the findings, said the result reflects steady progress since 2021. It highlighted the …
Tech concerns mount over elections in Serbia, spy chief’s arrest tests Albania’s NATO ties, protests over court verdicts continue in Kosovo and North Macedonia mulls impact of dangerous virus, our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here
More than 9.4 million foreign nationals entered Albania in the first eight months of 2026, according to INSTAT. The figure represents a 5.3% increase from the same period in 2025. In August alone, foreign entries rose 2% year on year. The pace slowed from July, when entries increased 7.1%, but …
Work is continuing on the Shëngjin bypass in Lezha, which will ease traffic and improve access to coastal tourist areas. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared footage from the construction site and said the bypass is expected to be fully completed by March 2027. The 8.1-kilometre road runs along the slopes …
Albanian lawmaker Taulant Balla met US General Wesley Clark during his visit to New York. Clark served as Supreme Allied Commander Europe and led NATO’s air campaign in 1999 during the war in Kosova. Balla expressed gratitude to Clark for his role during NATO’s intervention and for his support for …
New US Ambassador Eric Wendt arrived in Tirana on Friday. He is expected to present his credentials to President Bajram Begaj on Saturday. The ceremony will take place at 11:00 at the Palace of Brigades. Begaj and Wendt are also expected to hold a private meeting. The US Senate confirmed …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania’s national flag has reached a higher standing internationally than ever before. He made the remarks during his visit to New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly. In a post on X, Rama said his mission to take the national flag …
Albania and Greece aim to strengthen customs cooperation. Their plans include joint border management, electronic data exchange and easier trade and movement between the two countries. General Director of Customs Besmir Beja met his Greek counterpart, Dimitrios Bourikos, in Tirana for the 14th Bilateral High-Level Meeting. The meeting covered joint …
Prime Minister Edi Rama took part in the eighth edition of the European Corporate Council, where he focused in his remarks on the importance of peace, economic development and creating opportunities for future generations. Rama described his participation in the forum as a “special honour and privilege”, praising its role …
The Council of Ministers has officially declared the village of Vuno an immovable cultural property with the status of a “Historic Centre”. The decision, approved at the government meeting on September 25, 2026, also provides for the designation of a protective zone, as well as the approval of a plan …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has stated from New York that the United States could have done more to prevent, in his view, the start of the process that led to the conviction of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague. During a speech at …