High Costs Prevent 8% of Albanians from Undergoing Necessary Medical Examinations
Eight percent of Albania’s population aged over 16 did not undergo a necessary medical examination during 2024 due to the high cost. The latest Eurostat data on healthcare, based on citizens’ self-reported information, ranks Albania second after Greece among countries where costs prevent the largest share of people from receiving …
220 Emergency Department Visits a Day, Tourists Among Trauma Cases in Shkodra
According to the head of the Emergency Department, Ardian Dajti, the number of visits has increased significantly this season, reaching between 200 and 220 cases a day. He considers this one of the busiest seasons since operations began at the new hospital. “I have been working here for many years, …
Hoxha Meets Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Europe: Continued Coordination with the US on Shared Priorities
During his stay in New York, United States, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western, Central and Southern Europe Daniel Lawton. The meeting focused on opportunities to further strengthen the US-Albania strategic partnership, as well as the importance of continued and close …
European Commission: EU Negotiations with Albania on Track to Close by December 2027
The Commission is expected to formally back Albania’s 2027 accession timeline in a new action plan, which is also expected to include a list of key deliverables that Tirana will need to prioritise in order to complete the process by the end of next year. The European Commission is working …
Tax Authorities Continue Refunding Overpaid Tax, Around 2,200 Beneficiaries
The Tax Administration is continuing the process of refunding overpaid tax to individuals under the Annual Individual Income Declaration (DIVA) for 2025. According to the latest update from the General Directorate of Taxation, the next phase of the process includes 2,192 beneficiaries, with refunds amounting to €360,000. The refunds are …
Foreign Minister at Adriatic Charter Meeting: Kosovo’s Membership Would Strengthen Regional Security and Cooperation
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part in the meeting of foreign ministers of the Adriatic Charter, held under Croatia’s chairmanship. In his remarks, the minister stressed the need to strengthen this mechanism in the face of new security challenges and to promote more inclusive regional cooperation, …
Protest in Tirana Continues for 116th Day, Rally Outside Parliament Tomorrow
The citizens’ protest in Tirana entered its 116th day on Wednesday. As they have done since the protests began, demonstrators first gathered in Skanderbeg Square at 19:30 before moving to the Prime Minister’s Office, where they continued with their speeches. The protesters then began marching through the streets of Tirana. …
Municipal Spending Increased by Around 18% in 2025
Municipal spending increased sharply during 2025, but most of the funds continued to be used for salaries and day-to-day operations, while only around one-fifth went towards investment. According to the “Local Government in Albania 2025” report by the Institute for Albanian Municipalities, the country’s 61 municipalities spent around 87.1 billion …
Sotira Farm in Kolonjë blends nature and Albanian hospitality in an agritourism experience
Sotira Farm in Kolonjë stands out as a successful agritourism investment. Located in southeastern Albania, the farm attracts thousands of foreign visitors each year. The farm supports the local economy while also creating tourism and employment opportunities for nearby residents. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Edi Rama shared footage of Sotira Farm …
Albania aims to close environment chapter in 2027
Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj met European Commissioner for Environment Jessika Roswall as Albania marked one year since it opened negotiations on Chapter 27, covering environment and climate change. In a video message on social media, Jaupaj said Albania remains committed to meeting European environmental standards. He presented the work carried …
By Zef Preci Tirana Times, September 30, 2026 – For more than two decades, Albania has had legislation requiring senior public officials to declare their assets and financial interests. Yet persistent concerns over unexplained wealth suggest that the central issue is no longer simply whether officials submit asset declarations. The …
Investigators examine weapons deals, state-linked defense companies and the role of businessman Ron Yeffet after allegations of international arms trafficking surfaced in recordings released by former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj. Tirana Times, October 03, 2026 – A series of searches by Albania’s special prosecutors has opened a potentially significant …
Albania lost 2-1 to Finland at Helsinki Olympic Stadium in a Nations League League C Group 1 match. Rey Manaj put Albania ahead in the fourth minute with a header from Kristjan Asllani’s corner. Goalkeeper Etrit Berisha then made a mistake in the 22nd minute and had to intervene outside …
Electricity distribution losses in Albania fell to 15.6% in the first eight months of 2026, according to data from the Electricity Distribution System Operator. The figure marks a continued improvement from 18.93% in 2023, 17.93% in 2024 and 16.96% in 2025. Regional data also show lower losses. Fier recorded the …
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said Albania is among the leading candidates in the European Union enlargement process. In an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, she placed Albania and Montenegro at the front of the process, followed by Moldova and Ukraine. Kos said enlargement had achieved more …
Albania U19 secured a second consecutive victory over Lithuania U19, coming from behind to win 2-1 in a friendly match at the Vora Stadium. Lithuania took the lead in the first half, scoring from one of their few chances of the game. However, Albania responded strongly after the break and …
The International Dance Festival Tirana (IDFT) will launch its fifth edition on October 3, bringing a rich program of contemporary dance, international artists and artistic companies to the Albanian capital through October 21. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said the festival will feature 17 performances in nine …
The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Michel Tarran, met today with representatives of the Union of Judges, the National Association of Judges and the Association of Prosecutors of Albania to discuss recent developments in the country’s justice system. According to the OSCE Presence, the discussion focused on …
Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media today from “Gran Tour Albania,” an event that brought Italian collectors of vintage cars to the historic city of Gjirokastër. “Motoring enthusiasts and tourists added a new color to Gjirokastër in autumn,” Rama wrote alongside photos from the event. Rare vintage …
The National Library in Tirana hosted the presentation of “Usta Josifi and the Saze of Përmet,” a new monographic study by author Niko Mihali dedicated to one of Albania’s richest musical traditions. The book explores the urban folk music tradition of Përmet and focuses on the life and contribution of …