Tirana Mayor Set to Run Albanian Capital from Prison Cell
Mayor Erion Veliaj looks on course to continue governing the city from his jail cell – after the Constitutional Court annulled his dismissal and PM Edi Rama said he will not call early elections in Tirana. Original post Here
Letter From Brussels: Judgment Day for the Balkan Hopefuls
In the first of her monthly dispatches from the heartland of the European Union, Gjeraqina Tuhina looks at which Balkan states have been getting gold stars – or black marks – from the enlargement commissioners. Original post Here
Multigenderism’s Curious Impact
1. The Last Cycle of Extremist Ideologies in the Old Continent – Council of Europe In 2011, the Council of Europe adopted the final version of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), which contained many useful provisions. However, Article 3(c), which …
Balluku Charges Test PM Rama’s Power
TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times) November 11, 2025. The criminal charges filed against Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Belinda Balluku over the Llogara Tunnel project have pushed Albania’s flagship justice reform into uncharted territory, bringing prosecutors closer than ever to the core of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government. The Special …
Albanian Political Giants’ Electoral Reform Deal is a Sham, Rivals Suspect
Albania’s smaller parties believe the country’s two main political forces unexpectedly agreed to work together on electoral reform in order to fix the system to maintain their dominance. Original post Here
Western Balkans Remains Key Smuggling Corridor in Europe: Report
The Western Balkan countries remain important corridors in Europe for drug and human trafficking and migrant smuggling, says the 2025 Organised Crime Index, produced by an anti-graft NGO. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: November 10, 2025
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Ambassador Tsao: lets focus cooperation on technology and AI
Tirana Times sat with the Head of the Taipei Representative office in Italy, Ambassador Vincent Tsao on his recent visit to Albania to talk about cooperation and exchange in technology, development, education and more… Your Excellency, Taiwan is known globally for its advanced technology and innovation sectors. What specific areas …
Albania’s Gender Equality Law: Now Let’s See It Implemented
Online disinformation from opponents of the new gender equality law shouldn’t obscure the real issue: this vital legislation has been adopted by parliament, but now we need it to work in practice, not just on paper. Original post Here
Albania Gender-Equality Law Draws Praise and Condemnation
Women’s rights groups hailed adoption of the new equality law as a historic move – while the opposition Democratic Party and ‘pro-family’ groups called it an attack on traditional values. Original post Here
TIRANA, May 26 – Pope Leo XIV received President of the Republic of Albania Bajram Begaj in an audience at the Vatican. The meeting focused on bilateral relations and developments in the Western Balkans. Meanwhile, President Begaj also held talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy …
TIRANA, May 26 – Albania and the European Union will hold the eighth Intergovernmental Conference on accession negotiations in Brussels today. The meeting is expected to advance reforms under Cluster 1 “Fundamentals”. The conference will confirm Albania’s fulfilment of interim benchmarks. It will also define final benchmarks for the cluster, …
TIRANA, May 26 – The Meteorological Military Service said Albania will experience relatively stable atmospheric conditions on Tuesday. The weather will feature clear skies. It will also include occasional moderate cloud cover over eastern mountainous areas during midday and afternoon hours. Meanwhile, local rainfall is expected in eastern and southern …
TIRANA, May 26 – Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha held talks in Vilnius with Remigijus Motuzas, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lithuanian Parliament. The meeting focused on inter-parliamentary cooperation and support for Albania’s EU integration process. Meanwhile, Hoxha highlighted the role of parliamentary diplomacy …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Durrës is moving toward a modern transformation of its coastline. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s 35th anniversary event in Durrës, Rama highlighted ongoing projects at Durrës Beach. He said the area has changed from a coastline once affected by sewage pollution into a growing urban …
TIRANA, May 26 – Albania and the European Union hold the eighth Intergovernmental Conference today in Brussels. The agenda focuses on accession negotiations and Cluster 1, “Fundamentals.” At this stage, the conference reviews Albania’s progress on interim benchmarks and sets final benchmarks covering rule of law, justice, and democratic institutions. …
TIRANA, May 26 – The Head of the Muslim Community of Albania, Bujar Spahiu, extended greetings to believers on Eid al-Adha. He highlighted peace, solidarity, and harmony as core values of the holiday message. The message defined Eid al-Adha as a major Islamic celebration. It also emphasized sacrifice, obedience to …
TIRANA, May 26 – A Travel Radar article says Albania is no longer a secret destination in Europe. Eve Powell writes the piece in Travel Radar. Tourist arrivals doubled over the past five years. More than 12 million visitors entered Albania in 2025, according to official data. INSTAT reports a …
TIRANA, May 26 – At a National Conference on the role of civil society in electoral processes, Cinzia Tarletti, Head of the Good Governance and Rule of Law Sector at the EU Delegation in Tirana, stressed the importance of free, fair and transparent elections for democracy and Albania’s EU integration. …
TIRANA, May 26 – President Bajram Begaj said Albania’s relations with the Holy See carry major historical value after meeting Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. He made the remarks in a social media post following the meeting. He also published photos from the encounter. Begaj described the meeting with …