“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 …
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 …
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 …
Government Approves 870 Million ALL Compensation for Property Owners Affected by Legalized Buildings
The Council of Ministers has approved a financial compensation fund for owners of immovable property affected by legalized constructions across several regions of Albania. First, the decision was taken under the law on the completion of transitional property processes. It was proposed by the Prime Minister. The total compensation amount …
Public Administration Reform advances, minister reports progress to parliament
TIRANA, June 10 – State Minister for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni reported to the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs and Public Administration on the 2025 annual performance report of the Department of Public Administration. Pirdeni said the report comes shortly after the European Union’s 27 member states approved …
A founding personality of Albanian Academy of Sciences scholar, Luan Omari turns 101
TIRANA, June 10 – Academician Luan Omari, one of the founders of the Academy of Sciences of Albania, celebrated his 101st birthday on Tuesday. Omari was born on June 10, 1925, in Gjirokastër. He completed his early education in Bari and graduated from the Italian high school in Tirana. Later, …
Albania and EU Review Progress on Reforms and Investments
The European Union and the Albanian government reviewed progress on reforms and investments during annual monitoring meetings in Tirana. Officials assessed achievements. They discussed challenges. They also set priorities for the coming year. The meetings focused on the Reform and Growth Facility (RGF) and the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). …
Foreign Direct Investment Reaches €404 Million in First Quarter
Foreign direct investment in Albania reached €404 million in the first quarter of 2026. The figure marks an 11.6% increase compared with the same period last year. According to the Bank of Albania balance of payments report, real estate remained the leading destination for foreign investment. The sector attracted €174 …
Begaj in Sofia: Regional Cooperation Key to Europe’s Shared Future
President Bajram Begaj attended the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit in Sofia on Tuesday. The summit marked the 30th anniversary of SEECP. Leaders gathered to discuss regional unity, security, and sustainable development. During the meeting, Begaj emphasized the importance of EU integration for the Western Balkans. He also called …
Rama: Albania Must Stay Open to Large Foreign Investments
Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted on social media about foreign investments and tourism development. He shared a Greek media article. The article reported new luxury hotel investments in Mykonos by major international brands. First, Rama linked the topic to ongoing debates in Albania over large-scale investments, including the project in …
Toni Gogu met with Mattias Guyomar in Strasbourg. During the meeting, the two officials discussed the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights. They also reviewed the execution of rulings issued by the European Court of Human Rights and the progress of Albania’s justice reform. Furthermore, Gogu described the …
Silvio Gonzato took part in an event marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. UNHCR Albania, Albania’s Ministry of Interior, and other partners organized the event in Tirana. During his remarks, Gonzato stressed that the Refugee Convention remains a cornerstone of international protection for people fleeing persecution, violence, …
Justice Minister Toni Gogu took part in the informal meeting of the Council of Europe’s Justice Ministers. He spoke during a panel on the role of financial intelligence in combating money laundering and financial crime. During his remarks, Gogu stressed that the main challenge today is not collecting financial information. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …