Blog
News

Shipbuilding agreement with Fincantieri to boost jobs and modernise armed forces, says Kayo chief Veliu

TIRANA, April 29 – Kayo chief Ardi Veliu said on Wednesday that the agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri will increase employment and support the modernisation of the Albanian Armed Forces. Officials signed the agreement in Tirana during a ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office. The project will produce vessels at …

Read More
News

Warship production in Vlora Bay naval base, Fincantieri CEO outlines Italian industrial vision for European market

TIRANA, April 29 – Albania and Italy agreed to jointly produce military vessels, initially for the Albanian Armed Forces and later for export markets. Albanian company Kayo will carry out production in cooperation with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri S.p.A. The agreement was signed in Tirana by Kayo chief Ardi Veliu and …

Read More
News

Vučić’s Strong Statement: “They Tell Me My Mother Cheated on My Father with an Albanian”

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, made a strong statement during the podcast The Rest Is Politics: Leading, where he spoke about what he described as serious personal attacks and slander against him. In part of the discussion, Vučić stated: “Can you understand the argument when someone is casting a curse against you? …

Read More
News

Fiscal Amnesty to Take Effect Within May, Government Finalizes Acts on Scientific Research – What to Know from Today’s Cabinet Meeting

Following the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Finance Minister Petrit Malaj and Minister of Education and Sports Mirela Kumbaro announced the latest government decisions, focusing on issues affecting the Albanian diaspora, fiscal policies, and the development of scientific research. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj announced the ratification of an agreement between Albania and Poland on social security, describing …

Read More
News

Kosovo Heads to Elections, Osmani: Roads Closed by Injustice Are Always Opened by the People

Former President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, reacted this Wednesday following the dissolution of the Kosovo Assembly the previous day and the decision for the country to hold new elections within 45 days. In a video message published on the social network Facebook, Osmani stated that roads closed by injustice are always opened by …

Read More
News

World Bank: Albania Continues Economic Growth, but Faster Reforms Are Needed

The head of the World Bank in Albania stated that the Albanian economy continues to demonstrate resilience, but in order to sustain this pace and turn it into long-term development, faster reforms and greater investment in human capital are required. Speaking during the presentation of the regional economic report, Emanuel Salinas Paolucci emphasized that the main …

Read More
News

Democratic Party Officially Launches the Procedure for Electing a New Leader

The Democratic Party of Albania has officially launched the procedure for electing a new leader, through a decision by the Commission for the Organization and Control of Electoral Operations (KOKOE). According to the official document dated March 18, 2026, the process begins immediately and clearly defines the deadlines and criteria …

Read More
News

Fincantieri–KAYO Agreement, Rama: Pashaliman to Become a Center of Excellence for Shipbuilding

Prime Minister Edi Rama was present this Wednesday at the signing of the agreement between Fincantieri and KAYO to produce ships in Albania at the Pashaliman shipyard. During his speech, Rama described this agreement as an important moment for Albania’s future, emphasizing that it is not only linked to strengthening security and the Armed Forces, but …

Read More
News

Agreement Signed with Italian Company: Albania to Produce Ships in Pashaliman

Prime Minister Edi Rama was present at the signing of an agreement between Fincantieri, one of Europe’s leading companies of excellence, and KAYO, to produce ships at the Pashaliman shipyard in Albania. According to Rama, this venture will focus on producing vessels that will serve not only the Albanian Armed Forces but also the …

Read More
News

Pristina Displays Banner in Support of Former KLA Leaders

A large banner in support of former leaders of the KLA has been displayed today in Prishtina. The banner features Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi, who are currently undergoing trial at the Specialized Chambers in The Hague. Accompanying the images is a short message in English: …

Read More
News
The Cost of Non Enlargement: Why the EU Cannot Afford to Leave the Western Balkans Behind

Tirana Times, June 29, 2026 – For years, the debate on European Union enlargement has been dominated by the presumed costs of admitting new members: institutional complexity, financial burdens, political resistance and the challenges of integrating countries still undergoing democratic and rule of law reforms. Yet a more strategic question …

News
The Strategic Price of Non-Enlargement

By Albert Rakipi Tirana Times, June 30, 2026 – For more than two decades, the Western Balkans have lived inside the promise of European integration. In Albania, support for membership in the European Union has often remained above 90 percent. I have sometimes described this support as almost “totalitarian.” Yet …

News
Albanian PM’s Response to Protests Causing Unease Within His Own Party

Faced with unprecedented anti-government protests, Edi Rama has chosen to go on the offensive, to the public unease of several MPs and ex-officials from his own Socialist Party. Original post Here

News
€65 Million Allocated to Strengthen Local Government and Urban Transport in Albania

Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo has announced that the Albanian government has allocated €65 million to strengthen local authorities and improve public services. Speaking after a Council of Ministers meeting, Demo said the funding, approved through a normative act, aims to boost municipal capacity and enhance infrastructure …

News
Fincantieri–KAYO Deal Aims to Create 500 Jobs and Build 10 Vessels by 2030 in Albania

A new cooperation memorandum has been signed at the Pashaliman Naval Base in Vlora between Italy’s Fincantieri, the Albanian state company KAYO, and the Industrial School “Pavarësia”. The agreement focuses on training programs, internships, and job opportunities in the naval construction industry. Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero stressed that human capital …

News
Rama: Fincantieri–KAYO Agreement Opens Job Opportunities in Naval Industry

Prime Minister Edi Rama has said that the cooperation between Italy’s Fincantieri and the Albanian state company KAYO marks an important step toward strengthening Albania’s military and naval industry. He said the agreement focuses on internships and job opportunities in shipbuilding and maritime industry development. Rama stated that the partnership …

News
EU Commissioner Marta Kos: Albania Meets Key Interim Standards

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos says that Albania has met the interim benchmarks for the fundamental cluster, marking an important step in the country’s EU accession process. In a post on X, Kos also says that Albania receives a positive assessment in the IBAR report. She says the Cypriot …

News
Freedom of Information Still Impeded in Western Balkans, Report Warns

Despite robust legal frameworks, public institutions in the region are finding new ways to obstruct transparency, a new BIRN report finds. Original post Here

News
Fish Market in Vlora to Modernize Fisheries and Boost the Blue Economy

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Andis Salla and Vlora Mayor Brunilda Mersini visited the new facility after the Municipality of Vlora took ownership. The government invested €1.5 million in the project. The market covers 1,300 square meters and includes 15 cold storage rooms. It connects directly to the Fishing …

News
Albanian Parliament Approves New Law and Several Resolutions

Albania’s Parliament approved a new draft law and several resolutions during a plenary session on Tuesday. Lawmakers passed a law that strengthens official controls on food and animal feed safety, animal health and welfare, plant health, and plant protection products. The measure received 74 votes in favor. Parliament also approved …

News

The Cost of Non Enlargement: Why the EU Cannot Afford to Leave the Western Balkans Behind

Tirana Times, June 29, 2026 – For years, the debate on European Union enlargement has been dominated by the presumed costs of admitting new members: institutional complexity, financial burdens, political resistance and the challenges of integrating countries still undergoing democratic and rule of law reforms. Yet a more strategic question …

News

The Strategic Price of Non-Enlargement

By Albert Rakipi Tirana Times, June 30, 2026 – For more than two decades, the Western Balkans have lived inside the promise of European integration. In Albania, support for membership in the European Union has often remained above 90 percent. I have sometimes described this support as almost “totalitarian.” Yet …

News

Albanian PM’s Response to Protests Causing Unease Within His Own Party

Faced with unprecedented anti-government protests, Edi Rama has chosen to go on the offensive, to the public unease of several MPs and ex-officials from his own Socialist Party. Original post Here

News

€65 Million Allocated to Strengthen Local Government and Urban Transport in Albania

Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo has announced that the Albanian government has allocated €65 million to strengthen local authorities and improve public services. Speaking after a Council of Ministers meeting, Demo said the funding, approved through a normative act, aims to boost municipal capacity and enhance infrastructure …

News

Fincantieri–KAYO Deal Aims to Create 500 Jobs and Build 10 Vessels by 2030 in Albania

A new cooperation memorandum has been signed at the Pashaliman Naval Base in Vlora between Italy’s Fincantieri, the Albanian state company KAYO, and the Industrial School “Pavarësia”. The agreement focuses on training programs, internships, and job opportunities in the naval construction industry. Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero stressed that human capital …

News

Rama: Fincantieri–KAYO Agreement Opens Job Opportunities in Naval Industry

Prime Minister Edi Rama has said that the cooperation between Italy’s Fincantieri and the Albanian state company KAYO marks an important step toward strengthening Albania’s military and naval industry. He said the agreement focuses on internships and job opportunities in shipbuilding and maritime industry development. Rama stated that the partnership …

News

EU Commissioner Marta Kos: Albania Meets Key Interim Standards

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos says that Albania has met the interim benchmarks for the fundamental cluster, marking an important step in the country’s EU accession process. In a post on X, Kos also says that Albania receives a positive assessment in the IBAR report. She says the Cypriot …

News

Freedom of Information Still Impeded in Western Balkans, Report Warns

Despite robust legal frameworks, public institutions in the region are finding new ways to obstruct transparency, a new BIRN report finds. Original post Here

News

Fish Market in Vlora to Modernize Fisheries and Boost the Blue Economy

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Andis Salla and Vlora Mayor Brunilda Mersini visited the new facility after the Municipality of Vlora took ownership. The government invested €1.5 million in the project. The market covers 1,300 square meters and includes 15 cold storage rooms. It connects directly to the Fishing …

News

Albanian Parliament Approves New Law and Several Resolutions

Albania’s Parliament approved a new draft law and several resolutions during a plenary session on Tuesday. Lawmakers passed a law that strengthens official controls on food and animal feed safety, animal health and welfare, plant health, and plant protection products. The measure received 74 votes in favor. Parliament also approved …