Cup of Albania semifinals reach decisive second legs with final spot at stake
TIRANA, April 21 – The second legs of the Albanian Cup semifinals take place this week, with both ties finely balanced after 1-1 draws in the first matches. Elbasani hosts Egnatia on Wednesday, while Vllaznia meets Dinamo City on Thursday. Elbasan Arena stages the first fixture at 19:00 local time. …
Albania targets 900 agrifood facilities in EU accession food safety push
TIRANA, April 21 – Albania has launched inspections of more than 900 agrifood facilities as part of efforts to align food safety standards with the European Union. Minister of State and chief EU membership negotiator, Majlinda Dhuka said the process forms part of accession talks and broader sector reform. Officials …
PM Rama: European standards in food safety a challenge to achieve in EU membership negotiation process
TIRANA, April 21 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said food safety represents one of the toughest challenges in Albania’s European Union accession talks. He made the remarks during a meeting with food business operators in Tirana. Rama linked food safety reforms directly to Albania’s goal of EU membership within the …
Rama: Food safety, the most complex challenge of the EU integration process
Prime Minister Edi Rama held a meeting this Tuesday with food business operators, where he emphasized the importance of the European Union accession process as a key challenge for ensuring food safety in the country. Rama described food safety as one of the most difficult challenges of the negotiations, stressing …
“We have provided €12.5 million for food safety,” Gonzato: Quality improvement a condition for the EU
The European Union Ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, during a meeting with Prime Minister Edi Rama and representatives of the food business sector, stated that food safety is an important area for Albania’s progress toward the EU, as it is directly linked to access to the European market. He underlined …
Food safety, Rama: 900 businesses risk closure if they fail to meet EU standards
Prime Minister Edi Rama held a meeting with food business operators, where he emphasized that food safety is one of the most difficult and complex challenges in the process of European Union accession. The Prime Minister stated that 900 food-related businesses operating in the country risk closure or exclusion from …
Rama visits Greece, to attend the Delphi Economic Forum; meeting also with Mitsotakis
Prime Minister Edi Rama will pay a working visit to Greece at the invitation of the Delphi Economic Forum, which will take place from April 21 to 23. Rama will hold a meeting with his counterpart, the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations, deepening economic …
Record state budget revenues, €240 million more than last year
Revenues from taxes and customs have increased by around €240 million at the beginning of this year. VAT and social contributions have recorded the most significant growth. The state budget collected approximately 205 billion ALL in the first three months of the year. This figure is about 24 billion ALL, …
U.S. Ambassador to NATO visits Kosovo, welcomed by Anu Prattipati
The Chargé d’Affaires of the United States of America in Kosovo, Anu Prattipati, welcomed on Tuesday the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, Ambassador Matthew Whitaker, during his visit. Through a post on “X,” the U.S. Embassy in Pristina stated that this visit is an opportunity to discuss shared security interests. …
Haxhiu meets U.S. representative to NATO: America’s support vital for Kosovo
The Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, received on Tuesday the United States Permanent Representative to NATO, Matthew G. Whitaker. It is reported that the two interlocutors discussed current political developments, security in the Kosovo region, and the importance of close coordination among allies in facing the …
TIRANA, August 10 – Albania is stepping up work on its European Union integration process, with more than 20 draft laws already prepared for Chapters 16 and 29. Deputy Finance Minister Endrit Yzeiraj said the first half of 2026 brought heavy workloads and strategic tasks, but EU integration remained a …
Albania faces another potentially costly international dispute after losing several arbitration cases in recent years that have exposed the state to hundreds of millions of euros in compensation and related liabilities. Tirana Times, August 10, 2026 – Albania is no stranger to costly international arbitration. Over the past decade, the …
TIRANA, August 10 – High passenger and vehicle flows continue at Albania’s ports and border crossing points (BCP-s) during the peak tourist season. Thousands of people and vehicles have entered and left the country in recent hours. At the Port of Vlora, around 2,700 passengers are expected today on 3 …
TIRANA, August 10 – Albania’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.4% in July 2026, from 2.5% in July 2025. Consumer prices also increased by 0.2% from June. According to INSTAT data, food and non-alcoholic beverages made the largest contribution to annual inflation at 1.18 percentage points. The group covering housing, …
TIRANA, August 10 – Tradition, history and local cuisine came together at the 7th edition of “Mokra n’Fest”, held near the stone bridge in Golikë, Pogradec. The festival brought together local residents, visitors and emigrants who returned to their hometowns. An artisan fair and traditional food highlighted local products, including …
TIRANA, August 10 – Durrës Port recorded high passenger traffic during the first 10 days of August, as the summer travel season reached its peak. According to the Durrës Port Authority, 75,962 passengers travelled through the port between August 1 and 10. Most of the traffic involved arrivals, with 51,259 …
TIRANA, August 10 – Durrës remains a popular choice for foreign tourists spending their summer holidays in Albania. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video today featuring visitors from Germany, the Netherlands, England, the Czech Republic, Italy and other countries. Rama said the city’s sea, history, culture and Albanian hospitality …
TIRANA, August 10 – Problem loans in Albania’s banking system fell again in June. They accounted for 3.7% of total lending, down from 3.77% in May. According to Bank of Albania statistics, this marks the lowest level since 2007. The ratio also fell by 0.31 percentage points from June 2025. …
TIRANA, August 10 – Albania faces a high wildfire risk this afternoon and tomorrow, with temperatures reaching 40°C. The Institute of Geosciences (IGJEO) has placed 5 counties under a high-risk warning for forest fires. The warning covers Lezha, Durrës, Tirana, Elbasan and Fier. IGJEO expects a moderate risk in Shkodër, …
TIRANA, August 10 – Albania’s civil aviation sector is recording new highs in 2026 as summer tourism drives passenger and flight traffic. Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi visited the public company Albcontrol today, to review measures for managing the increased air traffic. Albcontrol Director Dritan Isaku said the organisation …