Albanian Parliament Opens Third Session of 11th Legislature, Peleshi: EU Membership Is the Number One Priority
The Albanian Parliament opened the third session of its 11th Legislature today, resuming parliamentary activity following the recess. At the first plenary sitting of the new session, Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing Parliament’s responsibility to continue working in the interests of citizens and the country. …
Hita Meets Police Officials in Four Regions, Focuses on Public and School Safety
Director General, Senior Director Skender Hita has continued his meetings with local and border police structures as part of intensified measures to strengthen the rule of law across the country. During meetings in Vlorë, Gjirokastër, Shkodër and Lezhë, Director Hita focused on the crime situation, particularly serious crimes, as well …
New EU Ambassador to Albania After Meeting Rama: Good Discussion on the Country’s European Future
The new EU Ambassador to Albania, Sofia Moreira de Sousa, posted on X about her meeting with Prime Minister Edi Rama earlier today. Alongside a photo from the meeting, the Ambassador wrote that the discussion focused on Albania’s European future, expressing optimism about it. Full statement: “Today I had my …
New Parliamentary Session Begins, Balla: EU Integration by 2030 Is a National Mission
The head of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group, Taulant Balla, stated at the opening of the new parliamentary session that Albania has entered a decisive phase in the process of negotiations for membership in the European Union. During his speech, Balla said that the Socialist parliamentary group would organize its …
Inflation at 3.2% in August, Transport and Food Drive Price Increases
Inflation in Albania rose to 3.2% in August 2026, marking a significant acceleration compared with the same month last year, when the rate stood at 2.3%. Compared with July, consumer prices increased by 0.1%. Data from INSTAT show that the annual increase in prices was driven primarily by food and …
Evis Kushi Elected Deputy Speaker of Parliament with 79 Votes as Opposition Boycotts Vote
During today’s plenary session, Evis Kushi was elected Deputy Speaker of Parliament with 79 votes in favor. At the time of the vote, the opposition boycotted the process and walked out of the chamber. Also today, Parliament voted on the President’s decree appointing Klodiana Spahiu as the new Minister of …
Honors for Ratko Mladić in Serbia, Minister Hoxha: Glorifying War Criminals Goes Against European Values
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha reacted in a post on X to the honoring of the convicted war criminal. Hoxha said that Albania condemns the glorification of Mladić and joins the European Union and other countries that have condemned the way he was honored in Serbia. He …
Court Presidents Call for Salaries to Be Unblocked: Constitutional Court Ruling Must Be Implemented
The presidents of Albania’s courts have called for the immediate unblocking of salaries for judges and judicial administration staff, as well as the implementation of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the matter. At a meeting held today, they discussed the situation created by the failure to process salaries and the …
Kosovo Records 27.8% Rise in Hotel Visitors
Kosovo recorded a significant increase in hotel visitors in July 2026, according to the Kosovo Agency of Statistics (KAS). Hotels welcomed 99,053 visitors during the month. Domestic visitors accounted for 32,098, while foreign visitors reached 66,954. Compared with July 2025, when hotels recorded 77,481 visitors, the total number increased by …
Gonxhja: Northern Towers Set for Restoration and Revitalization, Investments to Start by 2027
Albania is preparing to restore and revitalize its traditional northern towers. The government plans to start concrete investments by 2027. Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced the plan. He said the ministry is finalizing the national program with GIS and the State Cadastre Agency (ASHK). “Our goal is …
Exports continued to remain in positive territory in August 2026, but at a significantly slower pace than in previous months. The latest data from INSTAT show that sales of Albanian goods abroad reached ALL 20.5 billion, an increase of 1.6% compared with August last year. Albania’s foreign trade saw an …
Protesters gathered this Thursday in Skanderbeg Square in Tirana and began marching towards the Prime Minister’s Office as part of the latest protest against the government. This marks the 110th protest held so far, with demonstrators opposing the government and its policies. Organizers have announced that the protests will continue …
High prices for basic goods are reducing consumer spending. Although these are essential food items, citizens say they are buying less and are even avoiding fruits or vegetables that are too expensive. “They are very expensive. We can’t afford them. There is high unemployment, and we are barely managing. How …
By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, September 17, 2026 – The Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ has convicted former President Hashim Thaci and three other Kosovo Liberation Army leaders of war crimes but acquitted them of crimes against humanity. The sentence for Thaci is 25 years. This is happening while Aleksandar Vucic is resigning from …
Millions of euros flowed to companies linked to Strabag while Oleg Deripaska remained a major shareholder, exposing gaps in Albania’s ability to identify who ultimately benefits from public money Tirana Times, September 17, 2026 – For years, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s economic interests in Albania were largely invisible. They did …
The Hague verdict against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders has drawn reactions from the sports world. Former Albania national team footballer Taulant Xhaka has publicly expressed his support for Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. Xhaka posted a poster on Instagram featuring the four former KLA …
Endrit Thaçi, son of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, has voiced support for a protest organized by the War Veterans’ Organization of the Kosovo Liberation Army (OVL-KLA). He shared the organization’s call for a “Protest in Defense of the KLA.” Meanwhile, the protest will take place on Friday at 12:00 …
RTSH has officially begun implementing its 2026–2030 transformation and restructuring process. The Task Force established to lead and coordinate the process held its first meeting today. The European Broadcasting Union organized the meeting as a workshop focused on RTSH’s Transformation Strategy and its implementation. Radka Betcheva, the European Broadcasting Union’s …
Charles L. Smith, the presiding judge of the Trial Panel, has issued a decision launching procedures for reparations to victims in the case against Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli. The Trial Panel issued the decision on September 16 and published it today. It decided to initiate …
Justice Minister Toni Gogu said today that Albania will continue its digitalization process and use of artificial intelligence. He stressed that the country will protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Gogu spoke in Parliament during the review of the draft law on the ratification of the Council …