Albania’s Gender Equality Law: Now Let’s See It Implemented
Online disinformation from opponents of the new gender equality law shouldn’t obscure the real issue: this vital legislation has been adopted by parliament, but now we need it to work in practice, not just on paper. Original post Here
Albania Gender-Equality Law Draws Praise and Condemnation
Women’s rights groups hailed adoption of the new equality law as a historic move – while the opposition Democratic Party and ‘pro-family’ groups called it an attack on traditional values. Original post Here
Leaked Albanian Investigation Implicates Deputy PM in Tender-Rigging
A leaked file, apparently from an anti-corruption prosecutors’ probe, suggests deputy prime minister Belinda Balluku played an active role in predetermining the winner of a major construction tender. Original post Here
Rama: Albania Has No Fear of Russia
Tirana Times | November 5, 2025 Berlin/Tirana – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has downplayed growing Western fears of a possible Russian expansion of aggression in Europe, declaring that Moscow would “not attack Albania or any other European country” and that NATO remains fully capable of deterring any threat. In …
Albania Boosts Defense Spending to Align with NATO Goals
By Tirana Times November 5, 2025 Albania’s draft budget for 2026 marks a significant milestone in the country’s defense modernization and strategic alignment with NATO objectives. The government has announced a €100 million increase in defense funding, raising total expenditures to €589 million or approximately 2.1% of GDP surpassing the …
Dark Secrets: How Encrypted Comms Boosted Organised Crime in the Balkans
Encrypted platforms and secure devices have helped crime gangs in the Balkans to coordinate trafficking and payments – but while police have cracked several of them, the criminals quickly adopt new tools. Original post Here
PM Rama’s Misguided Diplomacy on Kosovo
The Albanian Prime Minister’s suggestions have largely and consistently proven not to be in Kosovo’s best interest October 29, 2025 By Veton Suroi Last week, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama offered a new recommendation for Kosovo in the process of normalizing relations with Serbia: “In my view, Kosovo should completely …
Albanian Officials’ Harassment of Journalists is Becoming Normalised
Intimidation of journalists working for independent media in Albania is getting worse, as state-level and local officials attempt to silence critical voices, both online and face-to-face. Original post Here
EU Enlargement Report Criticises Serbia, Hails Montenegro’s Progress
Tough European Commission report takes Serbian democratic backsliding to task – while saying Montenegro will probably be the first among the current candidate countries to join the EU. Original post Here
Oligarchy, Governance, and Justice in the Eyes of Citizens’ Expectations
By Zef Preçi The recent decision of Albania’s Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption (SPAK) to formally indict Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Belinda Balluku on charges related to abuse of office and corruption has sent shockwaves through the political establishment. Balluku widely regarded as the government’s second-in-command and …
By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …
By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …
From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here
by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …
By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …
Do you live in the Balkans or France, and have you been awarded child support payments after divorce? Was the process easy – and did you receive the money as the court ordered? Original post Here
by Dr. Arben Ramkaj Tirana Times, February 28 2026 – At the very moment when diplomacy appeared to be moving toward a fragile agreement, the United States and Israel launched a unilateral strike against Iran, shifting the region from tense negotiations to open confrontation. The targets included strategic infrastructure and …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Some Balkan countries are planning to evacuate stranded citizens from the conflict zone around Iran, others have already managed to fly people out – although some have only issued security warnings. Original post Here
For decades, sewage from the Albanian capital has been discharged untreated into the waters of the Lana River in Tirana. Original post Here