How a Balkan Wind Farm Aids US National Security
Energy suppliers in southeastern Europe are heavily politicized and sometimes nefarious. The US can aid democratic stability through energy engagement. By David J. Kostelancik When Congress passed the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), it sent a clear signal: energy security in Southeastern …
Albanian Law Only Partially Decriminalising Defamation Disappoints Media Groups
New changes to the Albanian criminal code that only partially abolish defamation as an offence have been criticised by media freedom organisations, citing concerns over freedom of speech. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 26, 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
A Case of Theatrical Diplomacy
Tirana Times, January 26, 2026 – Albania’s attempted entry into the Peace Board has become a revealing episode, not because of the significance of the initiative itself, but because of the way Albania’s leadership chose to stage and communicate it domestically. The Peace Board represents a new and ambitious international …
Albania Joins the Peace Board
Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania has joined the Peace Board, a newly established international mechanism initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at overseeing peace agreements and post-conflict stabilization efforts, with an initial focus on the Gaza Strip. The Peace Board was formally launched during the World Economic …
Opposition Protests as Corruption Case Deepens Political Crisis
The crisis deepens as the government shields Deputy PM Balluku and a criminal network emerges in AKSHI Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania’s main opposition party returned to the streets on Saturday with a second national protest against Prime Minister Edi Rama, challenging the legitimacy of his fourth term …
Environmentalists Urge Suspension of Kushner Island Resort Project in Albania
Forty-one environmental organisations from 28 countries have called for a halt to the planned development by Jared Kushner of Albania’s Sazan island as a luxury resort, saying it threatens the valuable biodiversity of the area. Original post Here
Kosovo, Bulgaria, Turkey Join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’
Kosovo, Bulgaria and Turkey have signed the Board of Peace Charter, under Donald Trump’s auspices, but several other Balkan countries are still pondering whether to join the initiative. Original post Here
‘Worrying’ Loss of Pristine Rivers in Balkans Highlighted by Study
Balkan countries are continuing to sacrifice their remaining clean river stretches to development and pollution, a new assessment warns. Original post Here
‘Balkan Nostradamus’: Baba Vanga’s Visions Still Flood Albania’s Media Landscape
The Bulgarian mystic’s doomy predictions continue to grab headlines in Albania and elsewhere – even though many seem fabricated and sometimes appear to serve Russian geopolitical narratives. Original post Here
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha reacted to the protest of Albanian students in North Macedonia. They demand the right to take exams in Albanian. In a post on X, Hoxha said the use of the mother tongue is a fundamental right. The Constitution and the Law on …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha spoke about the Fourth Diaspora Summit in a TV interview. This year’s summit will focus on economic, social, and cultural issues. It will include discussions on integrating the diaspora into Albania’s development. Hoxha said the three previous summits strengthened ties with the …
After week 30 of the Abissnet Superiore, national youth team coaches picked the best lineup and coach of the week. They used a 1-4-4-2 formation. Goalkeeper: Romeo Harizaj (Vora) kept a clean sheet against Teuta. Defenders: Faton Neziri (Dinamo City), Eljon Sota (Egnatia), Elmando Gjini (Vllaznia), Luciano Vera (Tirana). Midfielders: …
Prime Minister Edi Rama released a new book. It is called At the Moon’s Table. The book collects his speeches from iftar dinners. Moreover, Rama said he wrote it out of love for the Albanian language. “I love my language. Therefore, I write. Printing it in a book preserves it,” …
The Directorate for the Investigation of Cyber Crimes at the State Police has raised the alarm this Monday about the circulation of fraudulent SMS messages, which falsely appear as notifications from postal services regarding package deliveries. According to the official announcement, these messages contain suspicious links and urge citizens to …
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, after a two-hour meeting with the leader of Democratic League of Kosovo, Lumir Abdixhiku, confirmed that there was nothing new from the meeting. However, Kurti remains optimistic that through meetings they can reach an agreement, though not from today’s meeting. “While we no …
Today in Skopje, hundreds of Albanian law students in North Macedonia staged a large protest, demanding the use of their mother tongue in graduation exams—a right that exists in practice only on paper. With chants such as “Albanian language is our right,” “We speak Albanian,” and “There is no state …
Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, reacted to the protest of Albanian students in North Macedonia, emphasizing that the use of one’s mother tongue is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution and the Law on the Use of Languages. In a post on X, Hoxha underlined …
The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, stated this Monday on Euronews Albania, in an interview with Thimi Samraxhiu, that Albania’s EU accession process has not been blocked by any country and, according to him, the process is continuing. The minister also emphasized that the process is demanding …
Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, gave an exclusive interview to Euronews Albania with moderator Thimi Samarxhiu regarding the country’s EU integration process and its international relations. In the interview, Hoxha also focused on relations with Greece, which, according to him, are currently among the best they …