How a Balkan Wind Farm Aids US National Security
Energy suppliers in southeastern Europe are heavily politicized and sometimes nefarious. The US can aid democratic stability through energy engagement. By David J. Kostelancik When Congress passed the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), it sent a clear signal: energy security in Southeastern …
Albanian Law Only Partially Decriminalising Defamation Disappoints Media Groups
New changes to the Albanian criminal code that only partially abolish defamation as an offence have been criticised by media freedom organisations, citing concerns over freedom of speech. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 26, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
A Case of Theatrical Diplomacy
Tirana Times, January 26, 2026 – Albania’s attempted entry into the Peace Board has become a revealing episode, not because of the significance of the initiative itself, but because of the way Albania’s leadership chose to stage and communicate it domestically. The Peace Board represents a new and ambitious international …
Albania Joins the Peace Board
Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania has joined the Peace Board, a newly established international mechanism initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at overseeing peace agreements and post-conflict stabilization efforts, with an initial focus on the Gaza Strip. The Peace Board was formally launched during the World Economic …
Opposition Protests as Corruption Case Deepens Political Crisis
The crisis deepens as the government shields Deputy PM Balluku and a criminal network emerges in AKSHI Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania’s main opposition party returned to the streets on Saturday with a second national protest against Prime Minister Edi Rama, challenging the legitimacy of his fourth term …
Environmentalists Urge Suspension of Kushner Island Resort Project in Albania
Forty-one environmental organisations from 28 countries have called for a halt to the planned development by Jared Kushner of Albania’s Sazan island as a luxury resort, saying it threatens the valuable biodiversity of the area. Original post Here
Kosovo, Bulgaria, Turkey Join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’
Kosovo, Bulgaria and Turkey have signed the Board of Peace Charter, under Donald Trump’s auspices, but several other Balkan countries are still pondering whether to join the initiative. Original post Here
‘Worrying’ Loss of Pristine Rivers in Balkans Highlighted by Study
Balkan countries are continuing to sacrifice their remaining clean river stretches to development and pollution, a new assessment warns. Original post Here
‘Balkan Nostradamus’: Baba Vanga’s Visions Still Flood Albania’s Media Landscape
The Bulgarian mystic’s doomy predictions continue to grab headlines in Albania and elsewhere – even though many seem fabricated and sometimes appear to serve Russian geopolitical narratives. Original post Here
Taulant Balla met Socialist Party structures in Golem. He leads the party in Tirana County. The meeting focused on internal organization. It also stressed stronger field engagement. Participants discussed continuing work under the “Jobs of Albania” initiative. Balla highlighted cooperation between local structures. He said teamwork helps meet development goals. …
Tale in Lezhë has long attracted tourists. Each year, more visitors arrive. Therefore, authorities moved to improve access. The government backed a municipal project. It built a new road linking Rrilë and the Tale Hydrovore with the Lezhë–Tirana highway. The road stretches 6.3 km. It follows modern standards. It includes …
Every Tuesday since March 17 has drawn pilgrims to the Church of Saint Anthony in Laç. As a result, the site has become a center of prayer. People travel from cities across the country. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media. He showed the church in Laç. He …
Justice Minister Toni Gogu met EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato in Tirana. They discussed key challenges facing Albania’s justice system. They focused on efficiency. They also discussed improving citizens’ access to justice. In addition, they stressed stronger procedural guarantees. The talks also covered EU support. The European Union will help the …
Prime Minister Edi Rama gathered the Socialist Party parliamentary group. The meeting took place at the Assembly Presidency. It was held without media presence. Rama focused on parliamentary work. He also urged MPs to continue meetings with citizens. These meetings are part of the “Jobs of Albania” tour. He praised …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha and Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni met students in Durrës. They visited “Naim Frashëri” High School and “Aleksandër Moisiu” University. The meeting is part of the national tour, “EU and You: Europe Starts Here.” The event aims …
The U.S. Embassy in Tirana announced that the U.S. International Investigative Unit completed a specialized training with Albania’s Border Police. The focus was on detecting illegal documents and assessing risks. The training emphasized practical techniques to spot forgeries. It also strengthened officers’ professional skills in the field. The embassy highlighted …
The Montenegrin film Nderi premieres for the first time in Tirana and Prishtina. The director, Nikola Vukčević, presents it as Montenegro’s official Oscar® candidate (98th Academy Awards). The film has won 20 international awards at 31 festivals. These include the Cairo International Film Festival, IFFI GOA, and Palm Springs International …
The Ombudsman Endrit Shabani, who also serves as President of the Mediterranean Ombudsmen Organization (AOM), is conducting an official visit to the Republic of Kosovo, where he was received in a high-level meeting by the Speaker of Parliament and Acting President, Albulena Haxhiu. The discussions focused on the protection of …
Following the farmers’ protest held this Tuesday in front of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Minister Andis Salla and Minister of Finance Petrit Malaj met with a delegation of 15 farmers to discuss concerns in the livestock sector. During the meeting, issues related to subsidies, market functioning, competition, …