PM Rama says Albania leads region in public administration reform
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania ranks first in the region for public administration reform, according to the European Union’s SIGMA index. He made the remarks during the presentation of the “Merit Ladder” initiative. He said the government aims to strengthen merit-based career progression in public administration. Rama said he …
SPAK Chief Meets European Commissioner McGrath, Criminal Code and Political Rhetoric Against the Institution in Focus
European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, was received by SPAK chief Klodian Braho for a meeting. During the meeting, discussions focused on the Criminal Procedure Code, political rhetoric directed at SPAK, and the continuation of cooperation with the European Union. The post …
Rama Reacts After Parliament Approves Territorial Reform
Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted on social media platform X, just hours after Parliament approved the new administrative-territorial reform with 85 votes in favour. The reform will reduce the number of municipalities in Albania from 61 to 46. In his statement, Rama described the vote as another step towards …
Peleshi: Merger of Korça and Maliq Creates Albania’s Largest Municipality by Area
Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi has spoken from Korça about the administrative reform and the changes envisaged for the municipality under the new territorial map. According to Peleshi, the merger of the municipalities of Korça and Maliq will create a new administrative unit covering 1,462 square kilometres, making it the …
Demo: Territorial Reform to Deliver Stronger Municipalities and Better Services for Citizens
Interior Minister Ervin Demo described the territorial reform as a means of creating stronger municipalities, improving public services and bringing institutions closer to citizens. In a post on his Facebook page, Demo stated that “our goal is to establish local government with greater autonomy, but also greater responsibility for the …
Hita in North Macedonia: Task Force Against Irregular Migration Should Be Expanded
The General Director of the State Police, Senior Director Skënder Hita, participated in a roundtable discussion in North Macedonia on the continuation and expansion of the Joint Task Force Against Irregular Migration. During his speech, Hita emphasised that irregular migration is closely linked to the activities of criminal groups, human …
Rama Announces Creation of Ministry of Public Administration Next Week, Reveals Who Is Expected to Lead It
Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that the Ministry of Public Administration will be established next week, a new institution which, according to him, will play an important role in modernising the state administration and advancing Albania’s European integration process. During his speech, the Prime Minister argued that public administration …
Albania Parliament Approves Municipal Reform Plan Amid Protests
Controversial reform of local government dissolving smaller municipalities into larger units passes after stormy debate, with protesters demonstrating outside parliament. Original post Here
Jared Kushner Defends Controversial Albania Resort Project
Trump’s son-in-law rejects allegations of preferential treatment, outlines plans for a €4 billion investment and addresses environmental concerns over the Zvërnec development. Tirana Times, October 09, 2026 – Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, has issued his first extensive public defense of a controversial luxury tourism development …
‘ChatGPT Diagnosed Me’: Patients’ Faith in AI Leaves Albania’s Doctors Feeling Frustrated
As patients increasingly arrive at surgeries armed with diagnoses drawn from artificial intelligence chatbots, doctors fear their authority is being undermined – and that people may suffer as a result of AI-generated errors. Original post Here
A string of long-awaited elections, as well as changing international dynamics, are reshaping the region, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlights. Original post Here
Albania’s Transparency Board has set new maximum wholesale and retail prices for diesel and petrol. The new prices will take effect on October 9 at 13:00 and will remain in force until the board’s next meeting. The maximum retail price for diesel will be ALL 213 per litre, while the …
Klodjan Braho, head of Albania’s Special Structure against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK), met European Commissioner Michael McGrath on Thursday. McGrath is responsible for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection. The talks covered the Code of Criminal Procedure, political rhetoric towards the anti-corruption structure and continued cooperation …
Kosovo will compete at the 2026 European Individual Table Tennis Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) will host the tournament at Arena Stozice, bringing together the continent’s top players. Kreshnik Mahmuti and Shega Hashani will represent Kosovo, with Ridvan Hashani as their coach. FPPK President Nehat …
Specialists from the Korçë Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage have started maintenance work at the Monumental Tombs of Lower Selca. They are replacing and restoring the protective shelters over the ancient tombs to shield the structures from weather damage and preserve the site. The tombs stand in the Mokër area, …
Tickets are now on sale for Albania’s UEFA Nations League match against Finland at Air Albania Stadium on November 12. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:45. The match will be the penultimate fixture in Group C1. The Albanian Football Association has announced that fans can buy tickets in the stadium’s designated …
The Kosova Security Force won a gold medal at the Cambrian Patrol 2026 competition in the United Kingdom. Kosova’s Defence Minister Ejup Maqedonci announced the result, achieved among 120 participating teams. Maqedonci said the award reflects the force’s professionalism, discipline and high level of training. Meanwhile, members of the team …
Albania’s foreign currency reserves exceeded 8.4 billion euros at the end of August 2026. This marked their highest recorded level. According to the Bank of Albania, reserves increased by 15.1% from the end of 2025. They also rose by 18.7% year on year. Foreign currency purchases by the central bank …
Albania’s Prosecutor General, Olsjan Çela, welcomed efforts to improve criminal procedure law. However, he called for urgent solutions to infrastructure problems, security concerns and magistrates’ pay. He spoke at the general meeting of prosecutors, which is electing new members of the High Prosecutorial Council (KLP). Çela said staff shortages and …
Minister of Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni presented a reform of the public administration’s performance appraisal and career development system. She said the initiative aims to identify individual contributions, assess performance and link career advancement to merit. Pirdeni referred to findings from the National Public Service Survey. She said …