Probe Urged of ‘Unjustifiable’ Cost of Italy’s Migrant Camps in Albania
Anti-poverty NGO ActionAid has filed a complaint to the Court of Auditors in Italy over the 133 million euro cost of two migrant detention centres in Albania as part of a controversial asylum offshoring deal between Rome and Tirana. Original post Here
Saudi Embassy in Tirana Marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities
By Tirana Times Staff Tirana, 3 December 2025 — The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Albania today organized in Tirana the central event marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a broad awareness-raising activity that brought together around 250 children with disabilities from several cities across …
‘Hope Dies Last’: The Bosnian Wartime Sexual Violence Survivor Fighting for Justice
In the second of BIRN’s series about women’s wartime activism, Midheta Kaloper explains how she survived sexual violence during the Bosnian war and now helps other survivors to fight for their rights – and bring the perpetrators to justice. Original post Here
Albania’s Anti-Corruption “Success”: A Manufactured Illusion
By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …
Week in Review: Surprises and Standoffs
As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here
How Albanians in America Lobbied for Freedom Back Home
Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here
Rebuilt Housing Estate for Albanian Quake Survivors Hosts Just One Family
The earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019 left many families homeless. But a rural housing estate built to accommodate some of them remains almost empty due to problems with infrastructure and insecure terrain. Original post Here
Albania’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM
O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …
The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row
The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …
Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility
Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …
President Bajram Begaj welcomed the 8th Albania-EU Intergovernmental Conference on Monday. He called it a historic moment for Albania’s European path. The conference officially opens the closing phase of accession talks with the European Union. Begaj said Albania took another important step toward the European family. He described EU integration …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania remains the most pro-European country in Europe after the 8th Albania-EU Intergovernmental Conference. Rama welcomed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s focus on EU enlargement. He called the attention important and positive. He said enlargement was once a taboo topic, but that has changed. Rama called …
Cyprus Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna said EU enlargement remains a top priority after the 8th Albania-EU Intergovernmental Conference in Tirana. Raouna spoke alongside Prime Minister Edi Rama and EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos. She commented on a letter from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about new ideas for …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania has entered an advanced stage in its EU integration process after the 8th Albania-EU Intergovernmental Conference. He called the conference another major milestone for the country. Rama said Albania opened all negotiation chapters in just 11 months. He described the pace as fast and …
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos backed Albania’s goal to close EU membership negotiations by the end of 2027. Kos spoke after the 8th Albania-EU Intergovernmental Conference in Tirana alongside Prime Minister Edi Rama and Cyprus Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna. She said Albania’s progress is possible because of strong public support …
German Ambassador Karl Bergner and Dutch Ambassador Reinout Vos strongly backed Albania’s path toward EU membership in a joint statement on Tuesday. The statement followed the 8th Albania-EU Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels. The ambassadors called progress on the “Fundamentals” chapter an important step in Albania’s accession process. They congratulated Albanian …
Tirana will host the concert “Fio Zanotti & Super Band featuring FEZZ” on June 12, one of the most important cultural events of the year. The concert will take place at the Qendra Kulturore e Katedrales Ortodokse and will feature some of the leading figures of contemporary Italian music. Maestro …
TIRANA, May 26 – Albanian Radio and Television has launched the new edition of JuniorFest. The festival has promoted and showcased young Albanian talents for years. After memorable editions and successful performances, JuniorFest returns this year with a new artistic journey focused on music, creativity, and young performers. At the …
TIRANA, May 26 – Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi held a meeting in Madrid on Tuesday with the Speaker of the Spanish Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol. During the meeting, Peleshi discussed relations between Albania and Spain. In addition, he highlighted Spain’s continued support for Albania’s European Union membership process. At …
TIRANA, May 26 – The 8th Albania-European Union Intergovernmental Conference will take place in Brussels this Tuesday. The meeting will formally open the process for Albania to enter the phase of closing EU accession negotiations. The Agency for Media and Information said the conference follows a decision by the Committee …