Vlora Hyseni placed under house arrest, suspended as State Intelligence Service chief
The Special Court against Corruption and Organised Crime (GJKKO) has ordered the security measure of “house arrest” and suspension from office for the head of the State Intelligence Service (SHISH), Vlora Hyseni. According to information released in connection with the investigation, Hyseni is suspected of the criminal offences of “supporting …
High Costs Prevent 8% of Albanians from Undergoing Necessary Medical Examinations
Eight percent of Albania’s population aged over 16 did not undergo a necessary medical examination during 2024 due to the high cost. The latest Eurostat data on healthcare, based on citizens’ self-reported information, ranks Albania second after Greece among countries where costs prevent the largest share of people from receiving …
220 Emergency Department Visits a Day, Tourists Among Trauma Cases in Shkodra
According to the head of the Emergency Department, Ardian Dajti, the number of visits has increased significantly this season, reaching between 200 and 220 cases a day. He considers this one of the busiest seasons since operations began at the new hospital. “I have been working here for many years, …
Hoxha Meets Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Europe: Continued Coordination with the US on Shared Priorities
During his stay in New York, United States, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western, Central and Southern Europe Daniel Lawton. The meeting focused on opportunities to further strengthen the US-Albania strategic partnership, as well as the importance of continued and close …
European Commission: EU Negotiations with Albania on Track to Close by December 2027
The Commission is expected to formally back Albania’s 2027 accession timeline in a new action plan, which is also expected to include a list of key deliverables that Tirana will need to prioritise in order to complete the process by the end of next year. The European Commission is working …
Tax Authorities Continue Refunding Overpaid Tax, Around 2,200 Beneficiaries
The Tax Administration is continuing the process of refunding overpaid tax to individuals under the Annual Individual Income Declaration (DIVA) for 2025. According to the latest update from the General Directorate of Taxation, the next phase of the process includes 2,192 beneficiaries, with refunds amounting to €360,000. The refunds are …
Foreign Minister at Adriatic Charter Meeting: Kosovo’s Membership Would Strengthen Regional Security and Cooperation
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part in the meeting of foreign ministers of the Adriatic Charter, held under Croatia’s chairmanship. In his remarks, the minister stressed the need to strengthen this mechanism in the face of new security challenges and to promote more inclusive regional cooperation, …
Protest in Tirana Continues for 116th Day, Rally Outside Parliament Tomorrow
The citizens’ protest in Tirana entered its 116th day on Wednesday. As they have done since the protests began, demonstrators first gathered in Skanderbeg Square at 19:30 before moving to the Prime Minister’s Office, where they continued with their speeches. The protesters then began marching through the streets of Tirana. …
Municipal Spending Increased by Around 18% in 2025
Municipal spending increased sharply during 2025, but most of the funds continued to be used for salaries and day-to-day operations, while only around one-fifth went towards investment. According to the “Local Government in Albania 2025” report by the Institute for Albanian Municipalities, the country’s 61 municipalities spent around 87.1 billion …
Sotira Farm in Kolonjë blends nature and Albanian hospitality in an agritourism experience
Sotira Farm in Kolonjë stands out as a successful agritourism investment. Located in southeastern Albania, the farm attracts thousands of foreign visitors each year. The farm supports the local economy while also creating tourism and employment opportunities for nearby residents. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Edi Rama shared footage of Sotira Farm …
European Union Ambassador to Kosovo Dirk Schuebel has called for stronger cooperation between local and central institutions, stressing that closer coordination is important for Kosovo’s European integration process. Schuebel met separately on Wednesday with the mayors of Kosovo’s four northern municipalities and with the Mayor of South Mitrovica, Faton Peci. …
The European Commission is moving to formally back Albania’s goal of completing European Union accession negotiations by the end of 2027, according to Euronews. For years, Albania has promoted the 2027 target as a key milestone on its path toward EU membership. Now, European officials say the Commission plans to …
International credit rating agency Moody’s has upgraded Albania’s outlook from “stable” to “positive”. At the same time, it has affirmed the country’s sovereign rating at “Ba3”, the General Directorate of Taxes said. According to the Tax Administration, Moody’s identified strong budget revenue performance and the implementation of the Medium-Term Revenue …
EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa met with Prosecutor General Olsian Çela to discuss the main challenges facing Albania’s prosecution system. During the meeting, the two officials focused on ensuring justice for citizens and fighting crime. Moreira de Sousa highlighted the importance of a strong and effective justice …
Minister of Interior Ervin Demo held a courtesy meeting with Montenegro’s Minister of Public Administration, Marash Dukaj, on Wednesday. The two officials discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Albania and Montenegro. They also focused on local government and the region’s European path. Demo highlighted local government as an area where …
Albania continues to align its environmental standards with those of the European Union. The country is focusing on reforms, investments and stronger environmental regulations. Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj said he presented Albania’s progress during a meeting in Brussels with European Commissioner for Environment Jessika Roswall. The meeting also focused on …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part in a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Adriatic Charter, held under Croatia’s chairmanship. During the meeting, Hoxha called for stronger cooperation within the mechanism. He also stressed the need for a more inclusive regional approach to address emerging …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with Dame Karen Pierce, the United Kingdom’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, in New York, USA. During the meeting, the two officials discussed current developments and dynamics across the Western Balkans. They also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and …
Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi attended the Global Sustainable Transport Forum in China, one of the world’s major events dedicated to transport. Speaking at the forum, Karakaçi called for stronger international cooperation in transport. He also highlighted Albania’s role in major European transport networks. Karakaçi described Albania as …
Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi met with ambassadors and Friendship Groups representing the “Friends of the Western Balkans” countries at the Parliament on Wednesday. The group includes Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia. Peleshi described these countries as important partners for Albania. He also thanked …