Cases at ECHR Involving Balkans, Central Europe, ‘Still High’ – Report
Council of Europe report says Balkan and Central European countries continue to have high number of applications before Europe’s top human rights court. Original post Here
The Open Balkans wine tasting club
One way out of this awkward and unpleasant conundrum is for Open Balkans to retreat into a smaller, softer, cultural blend of cultural diplomacy with concerts, fairs and all the glittery shows its proponents are truly masters of. TIRANA TIMES EDITORIAL The Open Balkans initiative is quickly branding itself as …
Through regional networking, Western Balkans businesses are preparing for the European Union market
By DEJAN AZESKI SKOPJE, March 31, 2023 – Improving infrastructure, solving barriers that exist to speed up the flow of goods and services, establishing a joint airline that will connect the region, solving the issue of certification bodies and documents are just some of the topics discussed by business representatives in …
Golden Touch: Eight Decades on, King’s ‘Theft’ Still Divides Albania
King Zog’s reign brought progress and modernity to a backward Albania before his flight in 1939 – but controversies over the gold he allegedly took with him persist. Original post Here
Albania Violated Suspended Prosecutor’s Rights, Court Rules
The suspension of an Albanian prosecutor – later fired under a vetting process supposed to rid the justice system of graft – was not “in accordance with the law,” the European Court of Human Rights has ruled. Original post Here
UK Asylum Approach to Albanians Ignores Lived Experience, and Facts
The rhetoric, and now the laws, applied to irregular Albanian arrivals in the UK is discriminatory; it also ignores their lived experience in Albania and the UK’s own data. Original post Here
Albania’s Belba Winery featured at VinItaly’s Open Balkan stand
TIRANA, March 3, 2023 – When it comes to good wine, it’s all about the basic ingredient. “We’ve focused on growing the right grapes,” says Bardhi Belba, who learned about wine while living in Italy for many years before returning to his native Albania to start his own family winery …
IMO Slates Albania Judges’ Council’s Plans to Reinstate Fired Prosecutor
European Commission-appointed Monitoring Operation says plan by Albania’s High Council of Prosecutors to return to office a fired former prosecutor would undermine the entire vetting process. Original post Here
Albania Urged to Save Iconic 1920s Bridge From Collapse
Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute on Monday released a report urging Albania to save the iconic but damaged ‘Zogu Bridge’, considered ‘a masterpiece of civil engineering from the early 20th century in the Balkans’. Original post Here
Albania’s economy grew by 4.8% in Q4, beating expectations
TIRANA, April 1, 2023 – Albania, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 4.84 percent compared to the previous year, the Institute of Statistics said in its publishing of data on economic activity during the last quarter of last year. This increase goes beyond the forecasts of the Albanian authorities …
Balkan members of the Catholic Church have praised “broad-minded, spontaneous” Pope Leo XIV for his education, experience and openness. Original post Here
Tirana Times, May 8,– On May 11, 2025, Albania will hold its tenth parliamentary elections since the fall of communism in 1991 – a moment expected to be decisive not only for the political fate of the main parties but also for the democratic future and European orientation of the …
The Socialists and Democrats are still likely to dominate the Albanian political landscape after elections on May 11, but a cluster of new parties and the introduction of diaspora postal votes are threatening to shake things up. Original post Here
The Democratic League of Kosovo has filed 17 lawsuits in a fresh legal challenge against the outgoing prime minister, Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti, and his ministers. Original post Here
Anonymous social media accounts, a lack of financial transparency and the unethical use of AI could have an impact on voter opinion ahead of Albania’s May 11 parliamentary election, BIRN has found. Original post Here
In an interview with BIRN, Zef Mazi, Albania’s former chief negotiator with the EU, poured cold water on Prime Minister Edi Rama’s election promise of EU accession by 2030. Original post Here
TIRANA, Albania , May 6th (Tirana Times ) — On May 11, Albanians will head to the polls for parliamentary elections marked by a crowded field of contenders: 53 political parties and over 2,000 candidates will vie for 140 seats in the national legislature. While this diversity may signal political …
President Begaj welcomes His Majesty Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, with a solemn ceremony. May 2, 2025 | TIRANA, Albania Tirana Times In a visit marked more by symbolism than substance, Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein arrived in Tirana on Friday for …
Tirana Times | May 2nd | Prishtina, Kosovo — A unique cultural bridge between Kosovo and Saudi Arabia was inaugurated on Thursday with the opening of the “Urat” exhibition in central Prishtina, showcasing the Kingdom’s rich Islamic and cultural heritage. Organized in partnership between the Islamic Community of Kosovo and …
The involvement of individuals with criminal backgrounds or ties to the underworld among Albania’s so-called strategic investors must be examined in a broader context. Politically, this phenomenon represents one of the clearest signs of the symbiosis between crime and politics — and of the state being effectively captured by organized …