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President Begaj hosts french counterpart, Macron

President of France, Emmanuel Macron has been received this Tuesday morning in a high-level state ceremony by his Albanian counterpart, Bajram Begaj. French Head of State arrived on Monday afternoon in Tirana, while he was received by Prime Minister Edi Rama at the Palace of the Brigades. After the meeting …

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Albania abstained russia’s draft-resolution on Israel-Palestine conflict

Ambassador Ferit Hoxha has revealed that at the meeting of the Security Council where the situation in the Middle East including the Palestinian issue was discussed, Albania abstained voting on the draft resolution presented by Russia. This was done with the argument that the text failed to adequately address all …

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UK donated drones to monitor Albania’s land, sea borders

Interior Minister Taulant Balla and the Foreign Minister of Great Britain, James Cleverly visited together the new Border Police Station in Rinas, built with the funds of the British government as an aid to increase the capacities of the State Police. Minister Balla first expressed his gratitude for the support …

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Details on Begaj-Macron meeting unveiled

Details from this Tuesday’s meeting of President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron have been revealed. This visit is a historic event in the relations between our two countries, as it is the first official visit of a French President to Albania. During the face-to-face …

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Rama for the integration process: EU should give the Balkans a chance!

Prime Minister Edi Rama and French President Emmanuel Macron, after signing economic and cooperation agreements, held a press conference. During his speech, Prime Minister Rama said that the autocracy is gaining an advantage in relation to the democracies and this, he added, is not positive. Rama also thanked Macron for …

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Albania-France deals signed by Rama, Macron

French President, Emmanuel Macron, met this Tuesday with Prime Minister Edi Rama, who received him at the entrance of the Prime Minister’s Office. In the Prime Minister’s premises, Emmanuel Macron together with Rama, as well as in the presence of ministers and officials from the cabinets of both governments, signed …

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Integration into EU? Macron in Tirana: There is no fixed date

In the press conference with journalists, the French president, Macron, said that there is no fixed date for EU membership, as something like that does not make sense. According to him, two things are important to help speed up the process of Albania’s membership in the EU. “It’s completely true, …

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Amid regional tensions, Berlin Process leaders’ meeting in Tirana promises economic growth, renewed enlargement focus

TIRANA, Oct. 16, 2023 – The annual Berlin Process meeting was held in Tirana on Monday, with Western Balkan leaders, top EU representatives and several heads of EU member states in attendance, focusing on renewed EU support for the Western Balkans, marked by the introduction of the new economic growth …

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“Status for non-EU countries”, Rama: We would better understand common challenges

In his speech before the leaders of the EU and the Western Balkans at the first Berlin summit held in Tirana, the Albanian Prime Minister said that we must continue with inclusion in the EU, exploring new alternatives. According to Rames, something like this would create a harmonious existence to …

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PM Rama’s statement ahead of Berlin Process Summit’s launch

For the first time in the region, the Berlin Process Summit is held this Monday, which will bring together the leaders of the Balkan countries, EU member states and higher representatives of the European Union. Through a Facebook status, Prime Minister Edi Rama has posted a photo from where the …

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Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

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BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

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Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News
NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News
Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News
Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

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Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News
Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News
The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …

News

Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

News

BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News

Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News

NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News

Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News

Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

News

Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News

Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News

The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …