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Labour Market in 2025: Unemployment Falls to 8.4%, Average Salary Reaches 84,000 Lekë

The number of employed people in Albania reached 1.17 million in 2025. Compared to the previous year, employment recorded a slight decline of 0.4%. According to data published by INSTAT, the unemployment rate for people aged 15 and over fell to 8.4%, down from 8.5% a year earlier. However, the …

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Labour Market in 2025: Unemployment Falls to 8.4%, Average Salary Reaches 84,000 Lekë

The number of employed people in Albania reached 1.17 million in 2025. Compared to the previous year, employment recorded a slight decline of 0.4%. According to data published by INSTAT, the unemployment rate for people aged 15 and over fell to 8.4%, down from 8.5% a year earlier. However, the …

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Lack of Lifeguards Raises Concerns Over Safety on Durrës Beaches

Although the 2026 summer season has only just begun and has not yet reached its peak, three children lost their lives by drowning in the Adriatic Sea during the past week alone. The latest victim was an 11-year-old boy who died yesterday at a beach in Durrës. The tragedy has …

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Lack of Lifeguards Raises Concerns Over Safety on Durrës Beaches

Although the 2026 summer season has only just begun and has not yet reached its peak, three children lost their lives by drowning in the Adriatic Sea during the past week alone. The latest victim was an 11-year-old boy who died yesterday at a beach in Durrës. The tragedy has …

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Rama: Albania Is Taking a Strategic Role in Europe’s Energy Security

Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania is taking on a strategic role in Europe’s energy security. He made the remarks during an interview at the Future Investment Initiative Europe 2026 summit. Speaking about Europe’s future, Rama stressed that the continent needs stronger political unity. According to him, Europe must improve …

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Duka Attends FIGC Elections and Congratulates Malagò

Armand Duka attended the Electoral Assembly of the Italian Football Federation in Italy. He represented UEFA and delivered a formal address during the proceedings. First, Duka expressed UEFA’s support for Italian football. Then, he praised the role of FIGC in European football and emphasized the importance of cooperation between federations. …

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Berat Museum Unveils Earliest Archaeological Artifacts

The Ethnographic Museum of Berat has unveiled two of the earliest archaeological objects ever discovered within the grounds of Berat Castle: a stone axe and a stone hammer dating back to the Early Bronze Age. Archaeologist Hëna Spahiu discovered the artifacts during excavations in the 1970s. However, the museum kept …

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Finalist Teams Present Designs for New University Campus

Today, Prime Minister Edi Rama attended presentations by the five finalist teams in the international competition for the new Aleksandër Moisiu University campus in Durrës. Earlier, the competition attracted 41 Albanian and international teams. After a rigorous selection process, organizers chose five finalists to present their projects. The new campus …

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Mountain Package Inspires Diaspora Investment

The Mountain Package continues to inspire members of the Albanian diaspora to invest in their homeland. Recently, Socialist Party Parliamentary Group Chairman Taulant Balla shared a success story on social media that highlights this growing trend. Balla met with Albanian-Americans Saimir and Jonida Gjoka, who plan to launch an ambitious …

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Rama: Durrës University Campus Will Not Exclude Development in Tirana

Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the presentation of the five finalist projects for the new Aleksandër Moisiu University campus in Durrës. The project aims to transform higher education and create a modern academic center that meets contemporary standards. During the event, Rama said the new campus will bring together education, …

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Anti-Government Protests Escalate in Tirana as Demonstrators Block Parliament

Tirana Times, July 03, 2026 – Albania’s month-long anti-government protest movement entered a more confrontational phase on Thursday, as demonstrators gathered outside Parliament, blocked access points and clashed with police while lawmakers were holding a plenary session inside. The protest, now extending into its second month, has moved beyond its …

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Albania and European Commission to sign agreement on EU staff exchanges in September

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania will sign an agreement with the European Commission in September to allow Albanian public officials to work for fixed periods at European Union institutions, Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni said. Pirdeni said the initiative will strengthen the skills of Albania’s …

News
Government allocates €65 mln support package for local authorities

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania’s government will provide an additional €65 million to strengthen local government capacity and improve public services across the country. Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said the funding forms part of the 2026 budget amendments approved through a normative act. The package supports investment in basic …

News
Electronic communications authority completes 10 of 11 parliamentary recommendations

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania’s Electronic and Postal Communications Authority has completed 10 of 11 recommendations issued by Parliament while continuing to align the country’s electronic communications legislation with European Union rules. Speaking before Parliament’s Committee on Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, the authority’s chairman, Gentian Sala, said the …

News
Foreign minister Hoxha: Public administration undergoing deep transformation toward European Union standards

TIRANA, July 3 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said Albania’s public administration is undergoing a deep transformation. He linked the process to preparations for European Union membership. He spoke at the third edition of Public Administration Week. The event carried the theme “Public Service for a European Albania.” He said …

News
PM Rama: National Flight School opens, training and certification also for NATO and Kosova pilots

TIRANA, July 3 – Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the opening of the National Flight School. He described it as an ambitious project for the modernization of the Armed Forces. He said the initiative was initially met with humour and scepticism. However, Rama added that the project has now become …

News
From the Nile to the Balkans

By Dr. Arben Ramkaj Tirana Times, July 3, 2026 – If you sit by the banks of the Nile on a quiet afternoon and allow its serene flow to guide your thoughts, you realize that the water remembers not only the lands it traverses, but also the people who shaped …

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Week in Review: Hopes, Schemes and Stand-Offs

While some countries in the region dare to hope that they might join the EU in the near future, BIRN’s selection of Premium stories this week suggests others remain stuck in their usual deadlock. Original post Here

News
ALL 8.9 billion added to health and social welfare budget, focus on salary increases

TIRANA, July 3 – The health and social welfare budget for 2026 increases by 8.9 billion lek compared with the initial projection for the same year. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection records this as the largest increase for the sector. The ministry says the additional funding aims to …

News
Albania completes EU energy legal obligations under EU negotiation Chapter 15

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania has fulfilled all legal obligations under the European Union’s Chapter 15 on energy after Parliament approved the new electricity sector law, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said at the Energy Community Ministerial in Prishtina. Karakaçi said the legislation completes the country’s legal package and …

News

Anti-Government Protests Escalate in Tirana as Demonstrators Block Parliament

Tirana Times, July 03, 2026 – Albania’s month-long anti-government protest movement entered a more confrontational phase on Thursday, as demonstrators gathered outside Parliament, blocked access points and clashed with police while lawmakers were holding a plenary session inside. The protest, now extending into its second month, has moved beyond its …

News

Albania and European Commission to sign agreement on EU staff exchanges in September

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania will sign an agreement with the European Commission in September to allow Albanian public officials to work for fixed periods at European Union institutions, Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni said. Pirdeni said the initiative will strengthen the skills of Albania’s …

News

Government allocates €65 mln support package for local authorities

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania’s government will provide an additional €65 million to strengthen local government capacity and improve public services across the country. Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said the funding forms part of the 2026 budget amendments approved through a normative act. The package supports investment in basic …

News

Electronic communications authority completes 10 of 11 parliamentary recommendations

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania’s Electronic and Postal Communications Authority has completed 10 of 11 recommendations issued by Parliament while continuing to align the country’s electronic communications legislation with European Union rules. Speaking before Parliament’s Committee on Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, the authority’s chairman, Gentian Sala, said the …

News

Foreign minister Hoxha: Public administration undergoing deep transformation toward European Union standards

TIRANA, July 3 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said Albania’s public administration is undergoing a deep transformation. He linked the process to preparations for European Union membership. He spoke at the third edition of Public Administration Week. The event carried the theme “Public Service for a European Albania.” He said …

News

PM Rama: National Flight School opens, training and certification also for NATO and Kosova pilots

TIRANA, July 3 – Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the opening of the National Flight School. He described it as an ambitious project for the modernization of the Armed Forces. He said the initiative was initially met with humour and scepticism. However, Rama added that the project has now become …

News

From the Nile to the Balkans

By Dr. Arben Ramkaj Tirana Times, July 3, 2026 – If you sit by the banks of the Nile on a quiet afternoon and allow its serene flow to guide your thoughts, you realize that the water remembers not only the lands it traverses, but also the people who shaped …

News

Week in Review: Hopes, Schemes and Stand-Offs

While some countries in the region dare to hope that they might join the EU in the near future, BIRN’s selection of Premium stories this week suggests others remain stuck in their usual deadlock. Original post Here

News

ALL 8.9 billion added to health and social welfare budget, focus on salary increases

TIRANA, July 3 – The health and social welfare budget for 2026 increases by 8.9 billion lek compared with the initial projection for the same year. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection records this as the largest increase for the sector. The ministry says the additional funding aims to …

News

Albania completes EU energy legal obligations under EU negotiation Chapter 15

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania has fulfilled all legal obligations under the European Union’s Chapter 15 on energy after Parliament approved the new electricity sector law, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said at the Energy Community Ministerial in Prishtina. Karakaçi said the legislation completes the country’s legal package and …