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Tension in Kosovo, Rama: Not risk a second Donbass

Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted again regarding the situation on Kosovo after the meeting held between the EU envoy for dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, with the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, and the chief negotiator of Serbia, Petar Petkovic, on Wednesday in Brussels. The EU needs to act …

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The Assembly of Albania announces vacancies for 6 members of the KLGJ and KLP

The Parliament of Albania announced this Thursday the vacancies for 6 members of the KLGJ( The Supreme Judicial Council)and KLP (The High Prosecutorial Council) from the ranks of lawyers and civil society organizations The Assembly of Albania, based on law no. 115/2016. “On the governing bodies of the justice system” …

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OTP Bank Albania wins Euromoney 2023 award as ‘The Best Bank in Albania’ for the fourth year in a row, strengthening its position as a leading financial institution in the banking industry

TIRANA, June 20, 2023 – OTP Bank Albania has been recognized as the winner of the prestigious Euromoney 2023 Award – “Best Bank in Albania” for the fourth year in a row, demonstrating its excellence and dedication to their customers. This achievement strengthens the status of OTP Bank Albania as …

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Bar in high court’s building engulfed by flames

A fire engulfed the premises of a bar located on the fourth floor of the Supreme Court building this Thursday morning. According to the police, the incident happened around 08:05, where a fire broke out in a bar on the fourth floor terrace of the Supreme Court, at the intersection …

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Several accompanied to police for questioning on Lezha’s execution

Police of Lezha have accompanied several people related to the murder of Nikolin Lekstakaj in Balldren, on the grounds who may have knowledge of the event but are not suspects. It is learned that among those accompanied are also relatives of the Nikulaj tribe, but there is still no suspected …

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Xhaçka: Albania must be part of EU by 2030

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka emphasized that the process of Albania’s accession to the EU should be accelerated. At the meeting of the National Council for European Integration, the minister emphasized that Albania’s progress since the opening of negotiations is satisfactory, adding that she hopes that …

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EU temporarily suspends agriculture funds for Albania

The European Union has temporarily cut off funds for Albania in the field of agriculture. The Delegation of the European Union in Tirana announced that the European Commission has taken precautionary measures based on initial information provided by the European Anti-Fraud Office [OLAF], following an investigation into allegations of corruption …

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Abuse of duty and corruption, two officials of IKMT Berat arrested

Two officials of IKMT(National Inspectorate of Territorial Defense) in Berat have been arrested for the crimes “Abuse of duty” and “Passive corruption of persons exercising public functions”. The Court of First Instance in Berat has issued a security measure of arrest and imprisonment against two inspectors of the Environment and …

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One arrested as 44.000 undeclared EUR caught in Durres port

A 53-year-old man was arrested by the police after he was caught with 44.000 undeclared euros in the port of Durres. Police announced that 53-year-old Nuri Alushi had hidden the money inside the van-type vehicle of the Vlora-Italy route that he was driving, in order to avoid declaring it at …

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Balla meeting with the Italian ambassador: Strategic cooperation with the Italian law enforcement structures

The Minister of the Interior, Taulant Balla, held a meeting with the Italian Ambassador to Albania, Fabrizio Bucci, with whom he discussed issues of bilateral cooperation in the field of security and law enforcement. In the meeting, Italy’s support for Albania was confirmed regarding the numerous projects and programs related …

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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

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Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

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BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

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Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News
NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

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Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

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Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

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Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News
Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News
The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …

News

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

News

Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

News

BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News

Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News

NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News

Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News

Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

News

Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News

Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News

The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …