Blog
News

Rama hosted by N. Macedonia’s PM in Skopje

Prime Minister Edi Rama arrived this Thursday in Skopje as part of his tour to the Western Balkans. Head of the Albanian government was hosted by the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, while he was also accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Niko Peleshi and Majlinda Dhuka, Albania’s …

Read More
News

Kovacevski: Berlin process is important for the region, Albania has our support

Prime Minister Edi Rama is holding a press conference with his Macedonian counterpart, Dimitar Kovacevski, after the meeting within the regional tour of the head of the Albanian government. Kovacevski emphasized that the Berlin Process is important for the region and that Albania as the chair has its support. “Since …

Read More
News

Rama: EU needs us, as much as we need them 

Prime Minister Edi Rama held a press conference together with his Macedonian counterpart Dimitar Kovacevski, after a meeting between them in Skopje, as part of the Balkan tour of the Prime Minister of Albania. Rama said that it was a very useful meeting and discussion in the conditions when Albania …

Read More
News

Rama: “Open Balkan has done a great service to the region”  

Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a conference with his Macedonian counterpart, Dimitar Kovacesvski in Skope, was asked about Open Balkan process, whether or not it damages Kosovo. Rama said that this initiative has only brought good things to the region and whoever did not participate has made a mistake. “I …

Read More
News

Rama start the tour in Balkan with Skopje

Prime Minister Edi Rama will start the Balkan tour today, where he will hold meetings in Skopje, Pristina, Belgrade, Sarajevo and Podgorica. The head of government’s first stop will be in North Macedonia, where he is expected to meet with Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski at 11:00 a.m. today. At …

Read More
News

Rama Conditions Medical Degrees on Five Years’ Work in Albania

To stop newly qualified doctors from leaving the country, medical students will now have to work for five years in Albania before getting their diplomas. Original post Here

Read More
News

Albania Bank Rejects Calls to Act Against Currency’s Rapid Rise

Sharp rise in the value of the lek is hitting Albanian exporters hard – but Bank Governor Gent Sejko insists the rise is down to normal economic activity – not money laundering, as critics claim. Original post Here

Read More
News

Kurti refused meeting with Albanian P.M, Rama: We will talk tomorrow in Pristina

Although the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, refused the meeting with the head of the Albanian government, Edi Rama will not cancel his visit to Pristina, as part of the Balkan tour. “I am here because for this decision, as far as the visit tomorrow in Pristina and the …

Read More
News

Medicine students to work in Albania for 5 years before receiving degree

Prime Minister Edi Rama told journalists after the government meeting that students who want to continue medicine must accept the condition that they work for 5 years in the service of the people before they receive the degree. According to him, this applies to students who will apply this year …

Read More
News

Clinton gets rockstar welcome in Albania, weighs in on Kosovo

TIRANA, July 5, 2023 – The 42nd U.S. President Bill Clinton has received a rockstar welcome in Tirana, cheered on by a crowd at a ceremony in his honor in front of the Albanian Prime Minister’s Office on Monday.  The former U.S. president is cherished in Albania and Kosovo for …

Read More
News
Pay Delays Deepen Concern over Albanian Public Broadcaster’s Finances

Outside programme contributors to Albania’s indebted public broadcaster say they haven’t paid for months and are in the dark as to when they will receive the money they are owed. Original post Here

News
China Index: Beijing’s Influence Waning in Balkans – Except Bosnia

The latest China Index analysis, published by a civil society network that includes BIRN, suggests that Beijing’s influence declined in most of the Balkans in 2024, with only Bosnia and Herzegovina bucking that trend. Original post Here

News
Clan Capitalism: Albania’s Privileged Investors and Their Seaside Villas

Instead of stimulating investment in agriculture or energy, critics say a 2015 ‘special law’ on strategic investment in Albania has simply made it easier and more profitable for certain privileged businesspeople to build luxury villas on the coast. Original post Here

News
Albania’s TikTok Ban Widely Flouted, Even by Allies of PM

Halfway into a 12-month ban on TikTok in Albania, anecdotal evidence suggests the prohibition is being widely flouted while the government remains silent on promised filters to weed out ‘undesirable’ content. Original post Here

News
Week in Review: Deadlocks, Unexpected Twists and New Approaches

Our selection of Premium stories this week looks at the challenges facing the region as the summer season winds down and business-as-usual resumes. Original post Here

News
Kosovo Court Imposes New Ban on Parliament Over Deputy Speaker Logjam

Court again bans MPs from forming institutions deriving from the February elections while it considers a complaint about the failure to elect a deputy speaker from the Serb community, as guaranteed in the constitution. Original post Here

News
Ambassador Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi: Saudi Arabia Cultural Week, a Bridge of Communication Between the Two Countries

On the eve of Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Week, which will take place in Tirana from September 16–20 at the Palace of Congresses, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania, Mr. Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi, through a press statement, praised this event as …

News
Dirty Water: Albania’s Polluted Rivers Need Cleaning Now, Activist Says

When Denisa Kasa returned from abroad and saw the state of Albania’s filthy waterways, she was shocked. Now she has formed an independent collective of young people dedicated to the ‘dream of clean rivers’. Original post Here

News
Saudi Cultural Week to Bring a Taste of Arabia to Tirana

Tirana will soon open its doors to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Arabia. From 16 to 20 September 2025, the Palace of Congresses will transform into a vibrant stage for Saudi Cultural Week, a five-day celebration of art, heritage, and creativity hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The festival promises to be more …

News
Iranian Opposition Group’s Stay in Albania Turns Sour

Albania’s hosting of an exiled Iranian opposition group was never likely to be easy. Now it’s under criminal investigation. Original post Here

News

Pay Delays Deepen Concern over Albanian Public Broadcaster’s Finances

Outside programme contributors to Albania’s indebted public broadcaster say they haven’t paid for months and are in the dark as to when they will receive the money they are owed. Original post Here

News

China Index: Beijing’s Influence Waning in Balkans – Except Bosnia

The latest China Index analysis, published by a civil society network that includes BIRN, suggests that Beijing’s influence declined in most of the Balkans in 2024, with only Bosnia and Herzegovina bucking that trend. Original post Here

News

Clan Capitalism: Albania’s Privileged Investors and Their Seaside Villas

Instead of stimulating investment in agriculture or energy, critics say a 2015 ‘special law’ on strategic investment in Albania has simply made it easier and more profitable for certain privileged businesspeople to build luxury villas on the coast. Original post Here

News

Albania’s TikTok Ban Widely Flouted, Even by Allies of PM

Halfway into a 12-month ban on TikTok in Albania, anecdotal evidence suggests the prohibition is being widely flouted while the government remains silent on promised filters to weed out ‘undesirable’ content. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Deadlocks, Unexpected Twists and New Approaches

Our selection of Premium stories this week looks at the challenges facing the region as the summer season winds down and business-as-usual resumes. Original post Here

News

Kosovo Court Imposes New Ban on Parliament Over Deputy Speaker Logjam

Court again bans MPs from forming institutions deriving from the February elections while it considers a complaint about the failure to elect a deputy speaker from the Serb community, as guaranteed in the constitution. Original post Here

News

Ambassador Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi: Saudi Arabia Cultural Week, a Bridge of Communication Between the Two Countries

On the eve of Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Week, which will take place in Tirana from September 16–20 at the Palace of Congresses, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania, Mr. Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi, through a press statement, praised this event as …

News

Dirty Water: Albania’s Polluted Rivers Need Cleaning Now, Activist Says

When Denisa Kasa returned from abroad and saw the state of Albania’s filthy waterways, she was shocked. Now she has formed an independent collective of young people dedicated to the ‘dream of clean rivers’. Original post Here

News

Saudi Cultural Week to Bring a Taste of Arabia to Tirana

Tirana will soon open its doors to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Arabia. From 16 to 20 September 2025, the Palace of Congresses will transform into a vibrant stage for Saudi Cultural Week, a five-day celebration of art, heritage, and creativity hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The festival promises to be more …

News

Iranian Opposition Group’s Stay in Albania Turns Sour

Albania’s hosting of an exiled Iranian opposition group was never likely to be easy. Now it’s under criminal investigation. Original post Here