FM Hoxha says EU enlargement is strategic necessity for Europe
TIRANA, July 1 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said EU enlargement is a strategic necessity for Europe’s security, stability and competitiveness during a conference in Luxembourg on EU support for the Western Balkans, held by the European Court of Auditors. The Albanian chief diplomat said the Western Balkans and the …
EU4Culture Program Concludes After Restoring 23 Cultural Heritage Sites in Albania
The EU4Culture program has officially ended in Albania after restoring and revitalizing 23 cultural heritage sites across the country. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) implemented the project, which the European Union funded with a total budget of €40 million. The program ran from October 2020 to June …
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 …
With elections approaching in Bosnia and Serbia, rhetoric is heating up, while in Turkey and Albania, campaigners are feeling the pressure, as our round-up of Balkan Insight Premium stories shows. Original post Here
U.S. Presidential Envoy for Special Missions Richard Grenell has criticized the Hague court following its decision to sentence four former Kosova Liberation Army leaders to a combined 81 years in prison. Grenell described the decision as politically motivated. In an interview with Albanian television channel Top Channel, Grenell said Kosova …
The National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble is ready to begin its new artistic season with a calendar of activities that will open with a tour of several Italian cities. Artistic Director Sokol Marsi said the ensemble has just returned from Kosovo, where it took part in a nationwide festival …
A conference on cultural and scientific cooperation between Albania and France took place at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The event focused on Albania’s artistic heritage and the study of its medieval and post-medieval icons. The exhibition “Icons of Albania, Treasures of the National Museum of Medieval Art of Korça,” …
The exhibition “Marubi: Education Studio,” curated by Tereza Çuni and Jozefina Vokrri, presents a decade of creativity, experimentation and arts education at the National Museum of Photography. The exhibition at the Marubi Museum features a selection of work developed over 10 years at the museum’s Education Studio. The display brings …
The United States Embassy in Kosova urged citizens to avoid Skanderbeg Square in Prishtina and surrounding areas on Friday, September 18. Several organizations had announced protests there at noon. The embassy warned United States citizens about large crowds, road closures and severe traffic disruptions. It advised them to avoid the …
Justice Minister Toni Gogu said the review of Albania’s Criminal Procedure Code follows Council of Europe recommendations on pre-trial detention. He said the work aims to strengthen safeguards for personal liberty. It also seeks to make alternatives to detention more effective. Gogu spoke at a Justice Ministry roundtable on security …
Commercial flights in Albania increased by 22% in August 2026 from the same month last year, according to Eurostat data. The increase ranked among the highest in Europe. Albania also recorded a much higher increase than the European Union average of 2.3%. In the region, Montenegro followed Albania with a …
Prime Minister Edi Rama called for institutional dialogue over the law on magistrates’ salaries. He urged judicial representatives to join a joint working meeting and seek a long-term solution. Rama said the meeting should include the heads of the two justice system councils and leaders of judicial institutions. He said …
Thousands of people gathered in central Prishtina on Friday to protest the prison sentences handed to four former Kosova Liberation Army leaders by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague. The court found Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi guilty of four war crimes on September 16. …