Albania in the EU Fast Lane – Accelerating Without Democratising?
Tirana’s EU accession process is running in top gear – but worryingly, there’s no sign this is being matched with a democratic deepening at home. Original post Here
Albania 2026: Power Under Investigation
As Albania enters 2026, the country stands at a political and institutional crossroads shaped decisively by the shocks of 2025. What initially appeared to be a year of electoral routine and managed stability evolved instead into the most serious confrontation between executive power and the justice system since the launch …
Saudi Arabia’s Yemen Action: Between Deterrence, Diplomacy, and Regional Responsibility
The latest Saudi action in Yemen should be understood not as escalation for its own sake, but as part of a broader strategic approach that combines deterrence with diplomacy, aimed at safeguarding regional stability and preserving internationally recognized state authority. Riyadh’s move comes in response to concrete security concerns arising …
Exposing Scams, Probing the Powerful: A Year of BIRN Investigations
As 2026 begins, we look back on some of the most important investigations published by BIRN in its 20th anniversary year – from brutal migrant-smuggling gangs and arms deals with Israel to state surveillance of protesters and online frauds. Original post Here
Letter From Washington: The US Just Blasted Balkan Authoritarians – Or Did It?
The recently-passed Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act shows that some US lawmakers still care about the region. But it doesn’t mean that Donald Trump is going to tell Aleksandar Vucic to be nicer to student protesters. Original post Here
PM Kurti claims victory in Kosovo vote, no clear majority
Tirana Times PRISTINA, Kosovo December 29, 2025. Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti secured another clear electoral victory in Kosovo’s repeat parliamentary election on Sunday, with his left wing Vetëvendosje movement significantly expanding its lead over rivals but once again failing to secure the parliamentary majority needed to govern alone, according …
Deputy PM Balluku Arrest Bid Shakes Albania’s Rule of Law
Will Parliament Lift the Deputy Prime Minister’s Immunity? Tirana Times, December 28 th , 2025. Albania has entered one of the most serious institutional confrontations since the launch of its justice reform, as the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) formally requested parliamentary authorization to arrest Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of …
Tirana’s Construction Boom and the Flow of Dirty Money
TIRANA, December 26, 2025 – Albania’s decade-long construction boom, long portrayed as a sign of growth and urban renewal, is increasingly being scrutinized as a vehicle for laundering illicit capital. A new study by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, combined with years of investigative reporting and analysis by Tirana Times, points …
Secret tenders, violence and kidnappings, BIRN: The staggering profits of AKSH contractors
Tirana Times, 25 December, 2025 – On September 15, 2023, Ergys Agasi, 36, founded a company with a capital of 1 thousand lek (10 euros) with activity in the field of information technology. Under the name EA Solutions, the company had a rapid activity. In the balance sheet filed with …
Renowned Albanian restorer Jani Zoica has passed away, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in preserving mural art and religious monuments across Albania. The Museum of Medieval Art Korçë announced the news in a social media post, highlighting Zoica’s contribution to fresco and mural restoration for more than three decades. He …
The Bay of Vlora Bay has officially opened the summer tourist season, bringing improvements in organization and maritime transport. Tourist boats with a capacity of more than 12 passengers have begun regular daily operations, offering greater safety, comfort, and more travel options for the growing number of local and international …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:ff0eaaec-9d7c-4391-8477-ac5d7aae2b86-19″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:ff0eaaec-9d7c-4391-8477-ac5d7aae2b86-19″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-40″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi said that Albania is taking on a growing role in the Euro-Atlantic security architecture. He made the remarks during the Security Forum titled “US–Europe Partnership and the Indispensable Role of NATO”, organized by the Albanian …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-3″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-3″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-8″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> The Transparency Board, during its next meeting held this Wednesday, revised fuel prices. According to the announcement, the retail selling price of diesel fuel (gasoil) under the SSH EN 590 standard will be no more than 190 lek per liter. …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-4″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-4″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-10″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, reacted following the Eighth Intergovernmental Conference on the European Union membership process, describing Albania’s progress as the result of reforms and merit. In a post on the social media platform X, …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> On May 26, 2026, the 8th Intergovernmental Conference at ministerial level between the European Union and Albania took place in Brussels, marking a particularly important moment in the country’s path toward European Union membership. The Albanian delegation was led by …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”d55f69e8-673d-4e61-b840-a0f9eb84d695″ data-turn-id-container=”d55f69e8-673d-4e61-b840-a0f9eb84d695″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-11″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> After nearly six decades of interruption, the village of Kabash in Pukë witnessed the return of Eid al-Adha prayers at the ruins of the area’s old mosque, in a symbolic ceremony that gathered residents, worshippers, and emigrants who had returned …
The areas planted with agricultural crops in the Maliq plain, one of the largest agricultural regions in the country, are declining. According to farmers, this situation has been caused by the lack of market demand and prices that remain below production costs for agricultural products. Margel Agolli from the village …
Outstanding liabilities increased during the first quarter of 2026 after having declined significantly at the end of last year. According to the data, debts reached approximately 6.93 billion lek, which is 1.1 billion lek more compared to the end of 2025. According to the Ministry of Finance, the stock of …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”07d2e01d-a926-4e9f-bbf2-06eb441cb3c1″ data-turn-id-container=”07d2e01d-a926-4e9f-bbf2-06eb441cb3c1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-15″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Around 72.4 million people in the European Union continue to live at risk of poverty, while Albania remains one of the countries most affected by economic hardship in Europe. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> According …