Deputy PM Koçiu visits new hospitality centre in Saranda ahead of opening
TIRANA, May 13 – Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu visited the new “Hospitality Centre” in Sarandë, a multifunctional facility expected to open soon for the tourist season. Officials said the project combines modern infrastructure and European standards with Albanian hospitality traditions. Sarandë Mayor Oltion Çaçi accompanied Koçiu during the visit. …
NATO Secretary General warns of destabilisation attempts in Western Balkans
TIRANA, May 13 – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that some actors are attempting to destabilise the Western Balkans and pull the region backwards. During a visit to Montenegro, he said the alliance remains committed to ensuring past conflicts remain in history. Turning to security concerns, Rutte said NATO …
Albanian and North Macedonian parliamentary committees focus on climate cooperation
TIRANA, May 13 – The parliamentary Committee for Culture, Tourism and Diaspora of Albania and the Committee for Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development of Albania held a joint meeting in Struga, North Macedonia, on May 12–13. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe supported the event. Lawmakers from …
Infrastructure Minister Karakaçi: Government approves fuel subsidy for public transport operators
TIRANA, May 13 – The Albanian government approved a new subsidy scheme for public transport operators following higher fuel prices. The measure provides 50 lek per litre of fuel for transport companies. After the government meeting, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi said the subsidy covers urban, intercity and …
Rossmann & Lala Continues Expanding Price Reductions Across More Categories!
As part of its strategy to make personal and family care more affordable for every consumer, Rossmann & Lala is further expanding its price reductions to some of the most frequently used everyday categories: oral care, household cleaning products, and international chocolate brands. This step follows the successful price repositioning …
Albania–Italy Migration Deal Continues
Tirana Times, May 13, 2026 — The Albania–Italy migration agreement remains in force, despite a brief but politically sensitive controversy triggered by comments from Albanian Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha on whether the protocol could continue beyond its initial five-year term. The debate began after Hoxha, in an interview with Euractiv, was asked …
The Forgotten Synagogue and the Belated Love for Jewish Culture
By Auron Tare These days, in the noisy marketplace of Albanian opinions, a new theme is being articulated: the “love” of certain Albanian public gentlemen for Jewish culture and, beyond it, for Israeli politics. Some say it is pure love; others suspect it is interest; and others see it as …
Localised light rain showers with alternating clear spells
TIRANA, May 13 – The Military Meteorological Service said the country will face relatively unstable atmospheric conditions on Wednesday. It said the weather will feature alternating clear spells and periods of moderate to dense cloud cover, especially over the eastern and southern areas. In these regions, it said, localised light …
Yzeiraj: Albania Remains Attractive for Foreign Investment
Endrit Yzeiraj said Albania is strengthening economic cooperation with North Macedonia through joint initiatives aimed at increasing trade and investment. He made the remarks at the Business Forum “North Macedonia–Albania: Beyond Borders” held in Skopje. The forum was organized by the Albanian Embassy in Skopje in cooperation with the Economic …
“Double Your Entrepreneurship”, Finance Minister Malaj: 250 mln euro loan and sovereign guarantee for SMEs
TIRANA, May 13 – Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said small and medium-sized enterprises form a key pillar of the Albanian economy. He made the statement at the signing ceremony for the partnership between the state, the banking system, and businesses under the “Double Your Entrepreneurship” programme. He said SMEs account …
TIRANA, July 16 – Agriculture Minister Andis Salla said the draft law on the agriculture census will provide a key tool for shaping public policies and support schemes in the sector. Presenting the bill in Parliament, Salla said Albania’s agricultural sector has changed significantly since the last census. He highlighted …
The National Center of Cinematography brought together film professionals to discuss how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the audiovisual industry and why Albania needs a clear legal framework for its use. During a roundtable held as part of the International AI Film Festival, filmmakers and experts, including director Fatmir Koçi, …
TIRANA, July 16 – Albania’s National Library has opened an exhibition titled “World Literature Championship” at the “Sotir Kolea” center, inviting visitors to explore a different kind of competition during the final days of the World Football Championship. The exhibition presents some of the greatest authors of world literature and …
TIRANA, July 16 – Albanian champions Egnatia have reached the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League after defeating Moldova’s champions Petrocub 6-1 in the return leg at the “Arena Egnatia”. The Rrogozhina-based team had drawn 1-1 in the first leg away from home. However, Egnatia delivered a dominant …
TIRANA, July 16 – Albania has submitted the third reporting cycle of its Reform Agenda to the European Commission under the Reform and Growth Facility (RGF). The State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination (SASPAC) submitted the report, which includes 38 reform measures across 5 policy areas. Meanwhile, the …
TIRANA, July 16 – European Union Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato said the Justice Reform must become irreversible as Albanian justice institutions reviewed the progress of the 2024–2030 Cross-Sectoral Justice Strategy. The Ministry of Justice organised the discussion with the participation of heads of justice institutions. The EU Delegation in …
TIRANA, July 16 – Albania’s Parliament reviewed an agreement with Germany that will support a €13.5 million food safety project for 2026–2030, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Andis Salla said on Thursday. Salla presented the bill ratifying the 2025 Technical Cooperation Agreement with Germany. He said the agreement provides the …
TIRANA, July 16 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania’s “Smart City” project marks a new stage in strengthening public security through artificial intelligence. Speaking at the project’s Command and Control Center, Rama said the system is now entering implementation and will gradually expand across the country. He said artificial …
TIRANA, July 16 – The Seven Seas Splendor cruise ship, operated by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, arrived at the Port of Durrës for the first time with about 650 passengers on board. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of the ship’s arrival on social media. He said company representatives praised …
The provisional closure of three negotiating chapters represents an important milestone for Albania. Yet the Brussels conference also showed that the country’s further progress will depend on difficult reforms concerning the rule of law, environmental protection and the implementation of European standards. Tirana Times, July 16, 2026 – Albania provisionally …