Blog
News

Italian-Run Reception Centres in Albania ‘Ready to Accommodate Migrants’

The Italian ambassador to Tirana announced that two centres built to accommodate migrants who initially arrived in Italy are now ready to receive people, after months of delays. Original post Here

Read More
News

Turkish president visit opens doors to Tirana Grand Mosque, reaffirms strong ties

TIRANA, Oct. 11, 2024 – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made an official visit to Tirana on Thursday, reiterating the strong ties between the two countries — opening the doors to the region’s largest mosque, providing drones for the Albanian military and promising to double trade ties.  President Erdogan and …

Read More
News

San Daniele (DOP)

The Carrefour supermarket that I sometimes go to in Italy is my favourite supermarket. I’ve been to a few in Europe. I’ve been to Rewe in Germany and Albert Heijn in the Netherlands; what have you. Nothing for me can come close to the Carrefour at Via Cassia in Rome. …

Read More
News

Turkish President’s ‘Mosque Diplomacy’ Divides Albania’s Muslims

The lavish opening ceremony of a grand new mosque gifted by Turkey masks concern in Albania over whether Ankara’s generosity comes at a price. Original post Here

Read More
News

THE ADRIA SECURITY SUMMIT 2024 IS OFFICIALLY OPEN IN SARAJEVO

With the participation of 3,000 guests from over 50 countries, the latest advancements in the security sector will be presented   THE ADRIA SECURITY SUMMIT 2024 IS OFFICIALLY OPEN IN SARAJEVO – THE LARGEST SECURITY INDUSTRY EVENT IN SE EUROPE (Sarajevo, October 9, 2024) “Our goal is not only to …

Read More
News

Spain and Albania: Walking Together Towards a Shared European Future

by Ambassador Álvaro Renedo Zalba​* As we celebrate Spain’s national Holiday, please allow me to look back and reflect on the significance of the date we commemorate today. On October 12th, 1492, Christopher Columbus, at the behest of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Isabel of Castile and Fernando of Aragón, …

Read More
News

Albanian Police Seek Prosecution of Democratic Party Officials over Unrest

Proceedings have been initiated against three senior officials of the opposition Democratic Party after anti-government protesters threw Molotov cocktails and clashed with police at a demonstration in Tirana. Original post Here

Read More
News

2024 Jorgji Qirjako Translation Prize applications open

TIRANA, Oct. 8, 2024 – The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) has announced the opening of applications for the prestigious annual translation award set up to honor Jorgji Qirjako, the institute’s former deputy director and one of Albania’s most prolific translators of international non-fiction and academic works. “Jorgji Qirjako …

Read More
News

Albanian opposition demands caretaker government, calls for civil disobedience in disruptive mass protest

TIRANA, Oct. 8, 2024 – In one of the most hard-line demonstrations in recent years, Albania’s opposition Democratic Party led a protest in Tirana on Monday night, calling for a caretaker transitional government and civil disobedience against the government. The protest, which drew thousands of supporters, was set up in …

Read More
News

Spurned by Stakeholders, Albanian Govt’s Anti-Graft Initiative Unravels

In Albania, a new commission ostensibly created to spur reform and tackle corruption has been rebuffed by the justice system and civil society and criticised by the EU. Original post Here

Read More
News
Tirana hosts World Law Congress, World Law Foundation President highlights democratic challenges

TIRANA, May 7 – The World Law Congress opened its session in Tirana on May 7. World Law Foundation President Javier Cremades addressed the opening session by warning that modern democracies face rising pressure from autocratic tendencies. Political systems are becoming increasingly unstable in the digital era, he said. Cremades …

News
“Rule of law is never built once and for all,” Justice Minister Gogu says as Albania highlights justice reform

TIRANA, May 7 – Minister of Justice Toni Gogu addressed Albania’s justice reform during the opening session of activities for the World Law Congress, which will be held in Tirana in 2027. Gogu described the rule of law as an ongoing process rather than a fixed outcome. He linked the …

News
EU integration key to irreversible justice reform, PM Rama tells World Law Congress session

TIRANA, May 7 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania’s EU integration process remains the key driver for strengthening institutions and securing an independent justice system during the opening session of the World Law Congress in Tirana. He said the country now faces a decisive moment to make justice reform …

News
Ministry of Education and AADF Launch Major Education Reform Initiative

Albania Signs Agreement to Create National Agency for Educational Services The Ministry of Education and the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) signed an agreement in Tirana to establish the National Agency for Educational Services. The initiative aims to transform the current education services administration into a modern, autonomous institution aligned with …

News
Albania Strengthens Dialogue on Protection of Disabled Persons’ Rights

Ombudsman Hosts Italian Activist Maximiliano Ulivieri on Disability Rights The Ombudsman of Albania held an official meeting with Italian activist Maximiliano Ulivieri, a global advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. Ulivieri was accompanied by activist Suela Lala from the “Së Bashku” foundation and UNFPA representative Elsona Agolli. The …

News
Maks Velo, the artist and uncompromising opponent of the communist regime

TIRANA, May 7 – Maks Velo, artist, writer, architect, and intellectual, died on 7 May 2020. He was born on 31 August 1935 in Paris. His family later returned to Albania, where he graduated in civil engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Tirana in 1957. Between 1960 and 1973, he …

News
Government Approves New Procedures for Funding Cultural and Artistic Projects

The government has approved a new set of procedures for financing artistic and cultural projects in Albania. The decision replaces the 2022 regulation and aims to improve transparency, efficiency, and quality in state support for the arts. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport will manage the new system. Under …

News
Albania secures $40 mln climate project, expands forestry reform agenda, minister Jaupaj say

TIRANA, May 7 – Albania secured a $40 million climate project under the “Albadap” programme, which Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj described as the largest climate initiative in the Western Balkans. At a press conference in Tirana, Jaupaj said no EU or Western Balkan country runs a similar project financed by …

News
NATO more important than ever in current geopolitical environment, FM Hoxha tells Secretary General Rutte

TIRANA, May 7 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said NATO has become more important than ever in the current geopolitical environment after meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in talks focused on Euro-Atlantic security, Ukraine, the Western Balkans and Albania’s role in the Alliance. The meeting marked Hoxha’s first encounter …

News
Interior Minister Lamallari at United Nations highlights Albania’s return migration approach

TIRANA, May 7 – Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari attended the International Forum on Migration Review at the United Nations in New York. He joined a panel discussion on “Migration as a creative force”. At the discussion, Lamallari presented Albania’s approach to migration. He focused on the return of emigrants and …

News

Tirana hosts World Law Congress, World Law Foundation President highlights democratic challenges

TIRANA, May 7 – The World Law Congress opened its session in Tirana on May 7. World Law Foundation President Javier Cremades addressed the opening session by warning that modern democracies face rising pressure from autocratic tendencies. Political systems are becoming increasingly unstable in the digital era, he said. Cremades …

News

“Rule of law is never built once and for all,” Justice Minister Gogu says as Albania highlights justice reform

TIRANA, May 7 – Minister of Justice Toni Gogu addressed Albania’s justice reform during the opening session of activities for the World Law Congress, which will be held in Tirana in 2027. Gogu described the rule of law as an ongoing process rather than a fixed outcome. He linked the …

News

EU integration key to irreversible justice reform, PM Rama tells World Law Congress session

TIRANA, May 7 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania’s EU integration process remains the key driver for strengthening institutions and securing an independent justice system during the opening session of the World Law Congress in Tirana. He said the country now faces a decisive moment to make justice reform …

News

Ministry of Education and AADF Launch Major Education Reform Initiative

Albania Signs Agreement to Create National Agency for Educational Services The Ministry of Education and the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) signed an agreement in Tirana to establish the National Agency for Educational Services. The initiative aims to transform the current education services administration into a modern, autonomous institution aligned with …

News

Albania Strengthens Dialogue on Protection of Disabled Persons’ Rights

Ombudsman Hosts Italian Activist Maximiliano Ulivieri on Disability Rights The Ombudsman of Albania held an official meeting with Italian activist Maximiliano Ulivieri, a global advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. Ulivieri was accompanied by activist Suela Lala from the “Së Bashku” foundation and UNFPA representative Elsona Agolli. The …

News

Maks Velo, the artist and uncompromising opponent of the communist regime

TIRANA, May 7 – Maks Velo, artist, writer, architect, and intellectual, died on 7 May 2020. He was born on 31 August 1935 in Paris. His family later returned to Albania, where he graduated in civil engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Tirana in 1957. Between 1960 and 1973, he …

News

Government Approves New Procedures for Funding Cultural and Artistic Projects

The government has approved a new set of procedures for financing artistic and cultural projects in Albania. The decision replaces the 2022 regulation and aims to improve transparency, efficiency, and quality in state support for the arts. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport will manage the new system. Under …

News

Albania secures $40 mln climate project, expands forestry reform agenda, minister Jaupaj say

TIRANA, May 7 – Albania secured a $40 million climate project under the “Albadap” programme, which Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj described as the largest climate initiative in the Western Balkans. At a press conference in Tirana, Jaupaj said no EU or Western Balkan country runs a similar project financed by …

News

NATO more important than ever in current geopolitical environment, FM Hoxha tells Secretary General Rutte

TIRANA, May 7 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said NATO has become more important than ever in the current geopolitical environment after meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in talks focused on Euro-Atlantic security, Ukraine, the Western Balkans and Albania’s role in the Alliance. The meeting marked Hoxha’s first encounter …

News

Interior Minister Lamallari at United Nations highlights Albania’s return migration approach

TIRANA, May 7 – Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari attended the International Forum on Migration Review at the United Nations in New York. He joined a panel discussion on “Migration as a creative force”. At the discussion, Lamallari presented Albania’s approach to migration. He focused on the return of emigrants and …