Behind Albania’s Forest Crisis: Governance, Economy, and EU Accession
This article was produced as part of the Thematic Networks of PULSE, a European initiative that supports transnational journalistic collaborations The woodlands of Albania are a verdant expanse that once covered nearly half of the country’s rugged and mountainous terrain. In these past 25 years, however, they have been …
Promoting women’s leadership and participation in the next political elections is key for Albania
By: Fiona McCluney, UN Resident Coordinator Michele Ribotta, Chair of UN Gender Group Tirana, 8 March 2025 The general elections of May 11, 2025,are an important opportunity to strengthen democracy in Albania and consolidate past achievements in advancing women’s leadership in decision-making. While Albania has made …
Albanian Government Shuts Down TikTok, Opposition and Experts Call It Censorship
The Albanian government announced on Wednesday a one-year suspension of the social media platform TikTok, arguing that the measure is necessary to protect children and enhance online security. However, the opposition and independent experts have labeled the decision as an act of censorship that could impact the electoral campaign planned …
Albanian Ministry Confirms One-Year Ban on TikTok ‘to Protect Children’
Albania’s Minister of Education confirmed the prime minister’s previous announcement of a year-long ban on social media site TikTok, saying that it will be imposed within days. Original post Here
Drita Hajdari: Pioneering Prosecutor Who Battled Injustice in Kosovo
After a career littered with firsts, retired Kosovo prosecutor Drita Hajdari says the pursuit of justice for the crimes committed during the collapse of Yugoslavia is far from over. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 3, 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
PM’s Attacks on Prosecutors Turn Albania’s Justice Reform Into Election Issue
Following the arrest of a key ally, Prime Minister Edi Rama has launched a campaign targeting the judiciary in a bid to turn the tables ahead of May’s elections, experts say. Original post Here
Justice and Realpolitik: Trump, Thaci and the Kosovo Special Court
Donald Trump’s sympathy for Hashim Thaci – and his propensity to take bold action – could end the ordeal of Kosovo’s former president before the Hague court, over which the US has significant leverage. Original post Here
Albania’s Food Safety Scandal Highlights Rule of Law Deficiencies Amid EU Accession Talks
A recent scandal involving 10 tons of pesticide-laden mandarins distributed across Albania has once again exposed the country’s weak enforcement of food safety regulations and broader rule-of-law challenges. As Albania progresses in its European Union accession negotiations, the case underscores persistent governance issues that threaten the country’s path to EU …
New Book “The Lisbon Treaty and Transatlantic Dialogue: Significance and Inefficiencies”
A new book, The Lisbon Treaty and Transatlantic Dialogue: Significance and Inefficiencies, recently published by the EU Publications Office, provides a unique insight into the complex diplomatic dynamics between the European Union and the United States over the past three decades. Written by Dr. Álvaro Renedo, a Spanish diplomat, researcher …
TIRANA, May 19 – Vlora has welcomed the tourist season with visitors from around the world. Tourists explore the Ionian coastline and visit natural and cultural attractions. They also experience local cuisine and hospitality. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media showing tourists taking part in physical …
TIRANA, May 19 – Justice reform entered a phase of concrete results for citizens. Minister of Justice Toni Gogu made the statement during the 10th anniversary of the reform. He said institutions now focus on stronger procedural guarantees, higher efficiency in the justice system, and better access to justice for …
TIRANA, May 19 – Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu participated in the World Urban Forum 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Leaders, international institutions, experts and policymakers discussed urbanisation, sustainable development and the future of cities. Meanwhile, Koçiu said on social media that the forum served as a meeting point for visions …
TIRANA, May 19 – After strong success with four performances that sold out in record time, the ballet “Carmen” travels to Italy. It will be staged at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. Meanwhile, performances are scheduled for 23 and 24 May. The production marks an important step in promoting Albanian …
TIRANA, May 19 – The new e-Albania 2.0 platform delivered 22,936 public online services during its first day of operation. The platform has been fully redesigned to ensure faster and more secure access for citizens and businesses. Meanwhile, the portal registered 9,797 online applications for public services. It also generated …
Tirana, MAY 19 – Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari met senior FRONTEX representatives Eva Capogna, Holger Farnung, Teuta Krasniqi and Ksenia Hawryszkow in Tirana on Tuesday. During the meeting, Lamallari said discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Albania, FRONTEX and the European Union in border security, migration management and the fight …
Ervin Salianji has addressed a letter to the President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, as well as to diplomatic missions of partner countries, raising concerns about recent developments within the Democratic Party of Albania (PD). In his letter, Salianji expresses concern that internal democracy within the PD …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”717d6fb0-c4d4-46c7-a7d2-70c0563b3918″ data-turn-id-container=”717d6fb0-c4d4-46c7-a7d2-70c0563b3918″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-17″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Former Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić has stated that Montenegro’s accession to the European Union is a matter of survival for the Montenegrin state, warning that failure of this project would endanger the country’s independence and sovereignty. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] …
The Transparency Board convened this Monday, May 19, 2026, and decided on the new maximum fuel prices for the domestic market. According to the decision, the retail price of diesel must not exceed 205 ALL per liter, which is 3 ALL higher than the Board’s previous decision, while the wholesale …
Obesity is not a global epidemic as has long been claimed by international health experts. This is the conclusion of a global study that challenges the idea that obesity is spreading uniformly across the world. The research, published in the scientific journal Nature, shows that obesity rates have stabilized in …