Apolonia Archaeological Park declared immovable cultural heritage, new management plan approved
TIRANA, July 1 – The Council of Ministers declared the Apolonia Archaeological Park an immovable cultural heritage asset, also approving its boundary definition, zoning, and a new protection and management plan. The Albanian government said the new status applies in line with the official zoning map and coordinates set in …
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 …
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 …
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
€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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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
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 …
Albanian Radio and Television (RTSH) has presented its new visual identity and the new television season at a ceremony attended by representatives of institutions, ministers, journalists, artists and well-known figures from the world of media and art. Radka Betcheva, EBU Head of Member Relations for Central and Eastern Europe, also …
Albanian Radio Television (RTSH) is starting the new television season with a new visual identity and a series of innovations in its programming. The presentation took place this Wednesday at the RTSH premises, in a ceremony attended by representatives of institutions, journalists, artists and well-known television figures. The Director General …
A new visual identity and a new television season. Albanian Radio Television (RTSH) presented its new projects and vision this Wednesday, September 16, at a ceremony held in the “Gjon Simoni” hall of the institution, marking another step in its journey towards a more modern and dynamic appearance. Members of …
The European Union is supporting Albania in several key sectors. Energy and infrastructure remain among the main priorities. According to the European Commission’s “Energy Factsheet – Albania,” the EU has provided €588 million through the Global Gateway initiative since 2021. Meanwhile, this support could mobilize around €1.5 billion in total …
Albanian Football Federation President Armand Duka attended a gala evening hosted by the Greek Football Federation to mark its 100th anniversary. During the important milestone for Greek football, Duka congratulated Greek Football Federation President Chrysostomos Gkagkatsis and the entire Greek football community. Duka praised the history and contribution of Greek …
Albania will experience mainly stable atmospheric conditions on Thursday, according to the Military Meteorological Service. The weather will bring alternating clear spells and moderate to locally dense cloud cover. Cloudiness will be more pronounced in mountainous areas. Winds will be light, mainly from northwest to southeast, with an average speed …
Former NATO commander in Europe Wesley Clark said today that the world should not forget what happened in Kosova from 1997 to 1999. Clark recalled the repression under Slobodan Milosevic. He said more than 400,000 people were expelled from their villages in the summer of 1998. He also recalled military …
Forty-one works by renowned Albanian painter Ibrahim Kodra will be presented together for the first time in many years at the “The Sea and Music” exhibition. The exhibition will open on September 23 at the Bank of Albania. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja announced the exhibition. He …
US diplomat William Walker has reacted to the verdict by the Kosova Specialist Chambers against four former Kosova Liberation Army leaders. The former ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe described the sentences as a tragic day for Kosova. Walker questioned the European Union’s response before the …
North Macedonia’s Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi said that, despite the convictions, the four former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders “remain Kosovo’s liberators.” “Today’s verdict is a first-instance decision, while the battle for justice continues,” Gashi wrote on social media. Gashi called for calm. He also said that Thaçi, Krasniqi, Veseli …