Albania’s ‘Lads of London’ Create Bigger Problems for Their Home Country
A social media row between British right-winger Nigel Farage and Albania’s premier Edi Rama over the level of crime committed by Albanians in the UK misses the main point. Original post Here
The Silent Collapse of the Tower Euphoria
By Klodian Tomorri The history of the global economy is filled with well-documented episodes of collective madness. Often, these episodes have culminated in crises that brought even the greatest empires to their knees—such as the Mississippi Bubble or the South Sea Bubble. In other cases, they have devastated the lives …
Balkan Investigative Reporting Highlights: 20 Stories from 20 Years
As BIRN marks its 20th anniversary, here’s a diverse selection of investigations picked from two decades of in-depth reporting on one of Europe’s most complex and challenging regions. Original post Here
Rama Forces UK’s Farage Onto Backfoot Over Albanian Criminals
British far-right leader fails to land a punch with Albania’s prime minister in fiery row on social media over the number of Albanians held in UK jails. Original post Here
NATO’s Defence Spending Plan Poses Challenge for Balkan States
The Western military alliance’s new national spending benchmark on defence and security may cause problems for smaller and poorer NATO member states in the Balkans who cannot afford 5 per cent of GDP. Original post Here
Rule of Law or Rule by Law? Albania’s EU Path Faces a Crisis of Credibility
Jerina Zaloshnja As Albania accelerates the formal process of European Union accession—opening negotiation chapters at a pace that seems to outstrip democratic reforms—it faces an urgent and unavoidable truth: a country cannot genuinely integrate into the EU without first building a functioning rule-of-law society. No volume of technical chapters opened …
Balkan Countries ‘Failing to Enforce Freedom of Information Laws’: Report
Freedom of Information laws in the six Western Balkan countries may look robust, but public institutions all too often find ways to obstruct transparency, a new BIRN report has found. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: June 30, 2025
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Leaving Albania, the Country’s Youth Seek a More Stable Future
An inability to plan for the future is driving many young, educated Albanians to leave their homeland; experts say the government will have to address the trend sooner or later. Original post Here
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
The Emergency Intervention Fund has reached 8.2 billion lek (around 85 million euros) after annual contributions from commercial banks for 2026. The Bank of Albania said the fund was created in 2018. It aims to support the resolution of banks that face financial difficulties in the future. At the same …
Museum Week 2026 has transformed one of the capital’s top attractions. History, contemporary art, and music met at the Mosaic of Tirana. The site hosted the “Beautiful Minds of Albania” 2026 event. Blendi Gonxhja, the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, shared details about the gathering. The organizers presented innovative …
Albania is entering a new phase in its European Union membership talks. The 8th Albania-EU Intergovernmental Conference will take place in Brussels on May 26, 2026. This meeting opens the path to the closing phase of EU accession negotiations. The Media and Information Agency announced the news today. The EU’s …
The Ombudsman, Endrit Shabani, hosted the non-resident Ambassador of Canada to Albania, Elissa Golberg, today. During the meeting, the pair discussed the importance of bilateral cooperation. They also focused on strengthening independent institutions in Albania. Shabani outlined the current priorities of the Ombudsman’s office. He emphasized protecting human rights, increasing …
Gabriele De Fabritiis won Stage 5 of the Tour of Albania 2026 on Thursday. The final stage started in Vlorë and ended in Fier after 121.3 kilometers. De Fabritiis crossed the finish line first after nearly three hours of racing. Georgios Bouglas finished second, while Alin Toader took third place. …
The fourth edition of “Automotive Fair Albania” opened in Tirana and brought together car enthusiasts, technology experts, and industry professionals. The fair will continue until May 24. Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu attended the opening ceremony on Thursday evening. Koçiu said the event reflects a modern Albania that moves quickly …
Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Michel Tarran, met today with representatives of civil society to discuss electoral reform. The meeting took place at the request of civil society groups. Representatives from the Albanian Helsinki Committee, BIRN Albania, the Institute of Political Studies, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, …
Durana Tech Park has joined the network of pilot sites under the Eco-Industrial Parks Initiative in the Western Balkans. The park, owned by the Albanian Investment Corporation, stands near Tirana and focuses on technology, innovation, and advanced industries. As a result, the project will help Albania attract international investors and …
The chairman of the Republican Party, Fatmir Mediu, during his visit to Washington, attended a dinner organized in honor of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau. During meetings and discussions with Deputy Secretary Landau, they talked about the importance of continued United States support for a democratic Albania …
Sources told Euronews Albania that the ambassadors of EU member states have approved the interim benchmarks report for Albania. The approval of this report paves the way for the intergovernmental conference between Albania and the EU, which will be held on Tuesday. The Council of the European Union also announced …