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
Major Cocaine Heist Reveals Albanian Links to Swedish Drug Trade
The theft of a shipment of cocaine that was smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden exposed the role of Albanian criminal groups in the international logistics of the drug trade, as well as the challenges in holding them accountable. Original post Here
Iran-Linked Hackers’ Fresh Strike on Albania Highlights Continued Negligence
A new cyberattack by Iran-linked Homeland Justice group targeting Albania’s parliament revealed the continued vulnerability of state digital systems and failures to implement basic security measures. Original post Here
Week in Review: The Wheel of Fortune
Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the changing fortunes, power dynamics and neighbourly relations of countries and actors in South-east Europe. Original post Here
Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial
TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, blocking a request by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, and triggering one of the gravest confrontations yet between …
UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans
Survey of women who gave birth recently reveals a “pervasive yet often hidden crisis of obstetric violence” and a widespread dissatisfaction with medical care. Original post Here
Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity
Ruling Socialist Party uses its majority in parliament to vote down a prosecution request to lift former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku’s immunity, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here
Letter from Brussels: Is a Hopeful Breeze Blowing Through the EU’s ‘Waiting Room’?
Brussels has already gone cold on a scheme to allow some aspirant countries like Albania and Serbia second-tier membership – but that doesn’t mean that other creative approaches to European enlargement are off the table. Original post Here
Albania’s TikTok Ban Violated Free Expression, Court Rules
Journalists’ union welcomes ruling that says government-imposed one-year ban on social media platform was a ‘violation of freedom of expression and freedom of the press’. Original post Here
Fed by demand for new guns and leftovers from depots looted in the 1990s, Albania has become a key hub for small-arms trafficking. Original post Here
Albania will perform 13th in the second semifinal of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on May 14. The contest will take place in Vienna. Alis will represent Albania with the song “Nân”. The public and professional juries will select the top 10 countries from each semifinal. These countries will advance …
The first two semifinal matches of the Albanian Cup ended in draws. Egnatia and Elbasani drew 1–1 in the first semifinal. The match in Rrogozhinë stayed open for both teams. Everything remains undecided for the return leg. The home side started strongly. Sota gave Egnatia the lead in the 5th …
Minister Enea Karakaçi presented the new energy law. He said the reform aligns Albania with EU rules. It creates a more open and competitive market. It also reduces state intervention. The law shifts away from a centralized model. It promotes liberalization. Competition will drive the sector. Meanwhile, new energy sources …
Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari met a high-level delegation from Poland today. Lt. Col. Tomasz Czyż led the delegation. Lamallari and Czyż discussed strengthening cooperation in fire protection and civil emergencies. They focused on experience sharing and professional capacity building. “Exchanging experiences and investing in professional skills are essential,” Lamallari said. …
Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that the Albanian government is preparing a new pension scheme. He emphasized it will not replace the current system but enrich it. During a visit to an industrial complex in Durrës, Rama explained the scheme. Employees can save a portion of their salary in a …
Prime Minister Edi Rama visited an industrial complex in Durrës today. Several companies operate there in transport, recycling, and industrial processing. During the visit, Rama praised the companies’ growth. He said many started with limited resources and a big dream. Now they produce high-value products, like gold rings and pendants …
Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, said today that Albania is promoting an economy focused on attracting investments and exporting higher-value products. She spoke during a visit to an industrial complex in Durrës, alongside Prime Minister Edi Rama and Mayor Emiriana Sako. “This business processes and exports precious metals. …
Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader, Edi Rama, met today with the Party Assembly in Lezhë. He discussed Albania’s EU accession negotiations, aiming for membership by 2030. Rama said Albania has opened all negotiation chapters in record time, thanks to national effort and EU readiness. “Today is our moment. We …
Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama outlined the government’s ambition to raise Albania’s total gross production to €35 billion by 2030. At a Socialist Party Assembly meeting, Rama said, “We inherited an economy with less than €10 billion total production. Today, it stands at around €27 billion. We …