Middle East Crisis: Balkan Countries Act to Ease Spike in Oil Prices
As oil and gas prices surge amid the Iran war, Balkan countries are pondering ways to reduce the impact on households and businesses. Original post Here
Timeline: Albania’s High-Level Corruption Cases Raise Political Temperature
The controversy over Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku has put the spotlight on prosecution efforts to target high-level corruption – but she is only the latest senior politician to face charges. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 23, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Albania Opposition Protest Turns Violent
Democratic Party leader and former President Sali Berisha injured during clashes. Tirana Times, March 22, 2026 — Albania’s latest national opposition protest in Tirana, which ended in violent clashes between protesters and police, exposed not only rising anger against Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government but also a broader crisis of …
US Targets Iran Linked Cyber Network as Albania Emerges as Key Victim
Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – The United States has moved to dismantle a cyber network linked to Iran’s intelligence apparatus, seizing four domains used for hacking operations, disinformation campaigns and threats, in a case that places Albania at the center of a broader geopolitical confrontation. The U.S. Department of …
Albania Draws a Red Line on Iran
Parliament’s decision to label Tehran a state sponsor of terrorism formalizes a break years in the making and reflects a broad Albanian consensus that Iran has become a direct security threat Tirana Times, March 18, 2026 – Albania has taken one of its toughest political steps yet against Iran, with …
Europe’s Next Enlargement: Why Berlin, Paris and The Hague Could Decide the Fate of the Western Balkans
TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What initially appeared to be a Brussels-driven discussion about how to accelerate Ukraine’s accession has quickly evolved into a broader political reckoning inside key member states over the future shape, pace, …
Albanian MPs Adopt Resolution Declaring Iran ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’
Ruling Socialist Party MPs aiming to support the US on the Iran war push through resolution – but opposition MPs boycott the vote they claim was staged ‘for the personal agenda of the Prime Minister’. Original post Here
Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage
by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet …
‘Cruel, Sadistic’: Albanian Communist State’s Killings of Escapees Still Mostly Unpunished
In the final years of Albania’s communist dictatorship, the authorities shot dozens of citizens trying to flee the country – and most of the attempts to bring the killers to justice have met obstruction and incompetence. Original post Here
The Special Court announced this Wednesday that the hearings scheduled for next week in the case against former president Hashim Thaçi for obstruction of justice have been cancelled. According to the statement, the hearings had been set for April 14 and 17. “Thaçi and others have had their hearings scheduled …
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, hosted a meeting with Charlotte Hallengren, NATO’s Director for Operations. During the meeting, Kurti expressed gratitude for NATO’s commitment to maintaining peace, security, and stability, as well as for the important role of the NATO Advisory and Liaison Team (NALT), …
Inflation in Albania reached 2.6% in March, up from 2.1% a year earlier, according to the latest data. Compared to February, prices increased by 0.7%. The rise in inflation is mainly linked to the transport and energy sectors. Fuel prices increased due to geopolitical tensions between the United States and …
As part of the “Smart City” project, 20 schools in Tirana will be equipped with around 380 smart cameras, installed both inside and outside school premises. The number of cameras per school will range from 11 to 31, depending on the number of students. The system will monitor school environments …
A new SMS-based scam targeting citizens with fake notifications about vehicle fines has been identified by the State Police. According to the official statement, the messages appear to come from the e-Albania platform and contain fraudulent links that redirect users to fake websites. The purpose of these sites is to …
According to the report “State of the Global Workplace 2026” by Gallup, 39% of employees in Albania feel stressed at work, placing the country among those with high stress levels in Europe. However, 32% of employees are actively engaged in their work, above the European average. According to the study, …
Prime Minister Edi Rama held a meeting this Wednesday at an industrial complex in Durrës, where several companies operating in transport, recycling, and industrial processing are based. During his speech, Rama spoke about investments in technology and wages in the sector. He stated that the number of factories and enterprises …
TIRANA, April 8 – The Albanian Investment Corporation signed cooperation agreements with public partners to launch the “Independent Institutions Complex” project. The initiative aims to modernise administrative infrastructure and improve public services. At the ceremony, director Elira Kokona described the project as a key step toward urban and institutional change. …
TIRANA, April 8 – Saranda municipality has started work to address issues identified during the previous tourist season. A dedicated task force is now monitoring conditions on the ground. At the same time, officials have included all key concerns in the 2026 budget. As a result, current investments focus on …
TIRANA, April 8 – Albania has put its 2026 agricultural support scheme into force. Authorities will publish detailed guidelines soon. These will set criteria and open applications for farmers. The programme is backed by a €52m fund. It introduces key changes to widen access and increase support in priority sectors. …