Albanian Opposition Furious as AI ‘Minister’ Makes Parliament ‘Speech’
In a tense parliament session, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama gave the floor to the AI entity he has appointed as artificial intelligence minister, sparking an angry backlash from opposition MPs. Original post Here
‘Enemies of the State’: Concern in Albania, EU Over PM’s Criticism of Courts
In singling out judges and prosecutors for stinging personal criticism, Albania’s Edi Rama risks further eroding the democratic separation of powers, experts say. Original post Here
‘Enemies of the State’: Concern in Albania, EU Over PM’s Criticism of Courts
In singling out judges and prosecutors for stinging personal criticism, Albania’s Edi Rama risks further eroding the democratic separation of powers, experts say. Original post Here
Albania’s Headline-Grabbing AI ‘Minister’ is a Risky Innovation
Without legal frameworks and safeguards, the decision to appoint an AI entity as a ‘minister’ entrusted with sensitive tasks is ambitious – but fraught with danger. Original post Here
“Pashaliman Deal: Albania’s Transactional Politics and Western Patronage”
From D’Alema to Tony Blair, Rama’s reliance on influential Western figures fuels controversy. TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times, September 15,2025) — The Albanian government’s decision to hand over part of the Pashaliman naval base to an Italian developer under criminal investigation has widened into a broader debate about Prime Minister Edi …
EU Countries Ban Albanian Farm Exports Amid Safety Scandal
TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times, September 10, 2025 ) — Albania is grappling with an escalating food safety crisis as European Union member states including Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and Germany repeatedly block or destroy shipments of its agricultural products, citing dangerous levels of pesticides and heavy metals. The latest scandal unfolded …
Saudi Literature in Albanian: Tirana Times Publishes Three New Titles Ahead of Saudi Cultural Week in Tirana
Tirana Times Staff Albania, September 15, 2025, Tirana Times .With the opening of the Saudi Cultural Week in Tirana tomorrow, Tirana Times Publishing House is marking the occasion with the release of three new translations of contemporary Saudi novels into Albanian. The titles—Critical Condition of Patient “K” by Aziz Muhamed, …
In Albania, Christians and Muslims Unite to Protect Religious Heritage
In the Diber region in Albania’s north-east, Byzantine-era churches which have survived the ordeals of history are being protected by Christians, with a helping hand from their Muslim neighbours. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: September 15, 2025
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Tirana’s Water Crisis Hits Diplomats
TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times, September 14, 2025) — In a city where cranes rise daily and glass towers dominate the skyline, the most basic element of urban life — running water — is vanishing. For more than three months, the residence of the European Union ambassador in Tirana has received …
The State Police of Albania strengthened its cooperation with Spain in the fight against international crime. The Director General of the State Police State Police of Albania met with the Spanish ambassador Ventura at the Directorate General of State Police in Tirana. First, both sides praised the strong and strategic …
FlyOne Armenia resumed direct flights between Albania and Armenia today. The airline landed its first flight at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, restoring a direct air connection between the two countries. FlyOne Armenia will operate the route twice a week, every Monday and Thursday. The new service gives passengers more …
Prime Minister Edi Rama met French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Monday. Rama thanked Macron for the warm welcome and said he was pleased with the meeting. During a working lunch, the two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Albania and …
French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Albania’s European Union integration after meeting Prime Minister Edi Rama in Paris. Following the talks, Macron highlighted the growing ties between France and Albania. He pointed to progress in innovation, education, higher education, culture, and tourism as evidence of the close relationship …
European Council President António Costa said Albania could complete its European Union accession negotiations by 2027 if it maintains its current pace of reforms. Speaking at the EU–Moldova Summit in Brussels, Costa described Albania’s goal of closing negotiations by the end of 2027 as ambitious but achievable. He noted that …
Albania leads the Western Balkans in public support for European Union membership. Data from the European Commission shows very high levels of backing for EU integration. Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi stated that Albanians remain among the strongest supporters of the European project. He emphasized that 92% of citizens support …
The Central Election Commission of Albania and its counterparts in Moldova, Ukraine, and North Macedonia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen democratic resilience and European cooperation. First, the agreement was signed during the closing session of the regional conference “Money in Politics 2026.” As a result, the event marked …
Minister of Justice Toni Gogu held his first meeting with the new leadership of the National Bar Association in Tirana. First, both sides focused on strengthening institutional cooperation in the justice sector. They also discussed the implementation of new commitments following Albania’s signing of the Council of Europe Convention on …
The Parliamentary Committee on Economy, Employment and Finance reviewed the draft resolution on the annual activity report of the Bank of Albania for 2025. The committee also defined key priorities for the institution’s work in 2026. First, committee rapporteur and chair Milva Ekonomi praised the role of the Bank of …
The Municipality of Vlora has announced that navigation will be prohibited in the Cape Gjuhëz area on June 23 and 24, 2026, due to a coastal military exercise and live-fire drill conducted by the Albanian Armed Forces. According to an official notice from the Ministry of Defense, Military Unit No. …