Albania presents its civil service recruitment model at OECD/SIGMA workshop
Albania presented its experience in civil service recruitment and selection systems during a regional workshop organised by OECD/SIGMA in Paris. Representatives from the Department of Public Administration (DAP), alongside officials from Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership countries, participated in the workshop titled “Strengthening recruitment and selection systems in the civil …
Kurti: Kosovo secures €206.4 million from EU funds for development projects
Kosovo will benefit from €206.4 million in European Union funding, according to acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The EU’s IPA Committee approved Kosovo’s proposed projects under the IPA 2026 and IPA 2027 programmes, worth €180.5 million. In addition, three grants from the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), totaling €25.9 million, …
NATO’s Ankara Summit: Albania Confirmed, but No Date Set
Tirana Times, July 8, 2026 – NATO’s Ankara Summit, held on July 7 and 8, marked less a moment of new strategic doctrine than a shift from political pledges to implementation. The central message was clear: the Alliance is moving into a phase where defence spending, industrial capacity, support for Ukraine …
IMF forecast: Albania among Europe’s fastest-growing economies
TIRANA, July 8 – According to projections by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European economy is expected to maintain moderate growth rates during the remaining years of this decade. For the 2027–2031 period, the eurozone economy is forecast to expand by an average of 1.2% annually, while the European …
Tourist flows increase towards mountain areas, with Theth and Shala River among top destinations
TIRANA, July 8 – During these hot July days, many foreign tourists fill the streets of Shkodër. Their travel gear and backpacks easily identify them as nature and adventure tourism enthusiasts. Many visitors use Shkodër as a starting point to explore some of northern Albania’s most popular mountain destinations. Meanwhile, …
PM Rama: Next NATO Summit to take place in Tirana
TIRANA, July 8 – Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Wednesday that the next NATO Summit will take place in Tirana, following the conclusion of the Alliance’s meeting in Ankara. PM dismissed speculation that Albania would not host the summit. He said the country had moved beyond a time when …
Over 4,000 Teachers Complete Professional Qualification Program, 1,354 Earn “Master Teacher” Title
Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro highlighted the achievements of this year’s teacher qualification process, with more than 4,000 educators across Albania completing professional training programs. Kumbaro congratulated the teachers who participated in the qualification process, describing their commitment as an important step toward improving teaching quality and strengthening the education system. …
Dutch Prime Minister Supports Kosovo’s Future in the European Family
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten expressed his support for Kosovo’s European future, saying he hopes the country will become part of the European family one day. “I hope that Kosovo will become part of the European family one day, yes,” Jetten told Euronews Albania. Jetten made the statement while attending …
PM Rama welcomed by Rutte and Erdogan at official NATO Summit reception
TIRANA, July 8 – Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the official reception for heads of state and government hosted by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the NATO Summit in Ankara. Rama shared images from the reception on social media. He described the event …
Three fires hit Porto Palermo in Himara Municipality, flames brought under control
TIRANA, July 8 – Three fire outbreaks affected the Porto Palermo area in Himarë Municipality overnight, putting emergency structures on alert. According to official information, authorities received the alert around 23:00. Firefighters immediately sent a fire engine and a water tanker to the scene. Meanwhile, the entire firefighting service was …
European Union Ambassador to Kosovo Dirk Schuebel has called for stronger cooperation between local and central institutions, stressing that closer coordination is important for Kosovo’s European integration process. Schuebel met separately on Wednesday with the mayors of Kosovo’s four northern municipalities and with the Mayor of South Mitrovica, Faton Peci. …
The European Commission is moving to formally back Albania’s goal of completing European Union accession negotiations by the end of 2027, according to Euronews. For years, Albania has promoted the 2027 target as a key milestone on its path toward EU membership. Now, European officials say the Commission plans to …
International credit rating agency Moody’s has upgraded Albania’s outlook from “stable” to “positive”. At the same time, it has affirmed the country’s sovereign rating at “Ba3”, the General Directorate of Taxes said. According to the Tax Administration, Moody’s identified strong budget revenue performance and the implementation of the Medium-Term Revenue …
EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa met with Prosecutor General Olsian Çela to discuss the main challenges facing Albania’s prosecution system. During the meeting, the two officials focused on ensuring justice for citizens and fighting crime. Moreira de Sousa highlighted the importance of a strong and effective justice …
Minister of Interior Ervin Demo held a courtesy meeting with Montenegro’s Minister of Public Administration, Marash Dukaj, on Wednesday. The two officials discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Albania and Montenegro. They also focused on local government and the region’s European path. Demo highlighted local government as an area where …
Albania continues to align its environmental standards with those of the European Union. The country is focusing on reforms, investments and stronger environmental regulations. Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj said he presented Albania’s progress during a meeting in Brussels with European Commissioner for Environment Jessika Roswall. The meeting also focused on …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part in a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Adriatic Charter, held under Croatia’s chairmanship. During the meeting, Hoxha called for stronger cooperation within the mechanism. He also stressed the need for a more inclusive regional approach to address emerging …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with Dame Karen Pierce, the United Kingdom’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, in New York, USA. During the meeting, the two officials discussed current developments and dynamics across the Western Balkans. They also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and …
Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi attended the Global Sustainable Transport Forum in China, one of the world’s major events dedicated to transport. Speaking at the forum, Karakaçi called for stronger international cooperation in transport. He also highlighted Albania’s role in major European transport networks. Karakaçi described Albania as …
Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi met with ambassadors and Friendship Groups representing the “Friends of the Western Balkans” countries at the Parliament on Wednesday. The group includes Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia. Peleshi described these countries as important partners for Albania. He also thanked …