Ermonela Jaho serves as Opera Rara Artist Ambassador
Renowned Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho serves as an Artist Ambassador for Opera Rara, a London-based opera organisation dedicated to reviving neglected works and bringing rarely performed repertoire to modern audiences. Founded in 1970, Opera Rara specialises in researching, restoring, recording and performing operas that have largely disappeared from the mainstream …
Albania targets completion of technical EU accession talks by December 2027
Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha says Albania aims to complete the technical phase of European Union accession negotiations by December 2027. The goal is to advance to the political phase and join the bloc within this decade. Presenting the 2027 budget priorities to the parliamentary Committee on Europe and Foreign Affairs, …
Albania’s 2027 budget exceeds €10 billion in planned public spending
Finance Minister Petrit Malaj says the 2027 draft budget provides for public spending exceeding €10 billion for the first time. The plan prioritises social welfare, fiscal stability, public investment and reforms linked to European Union integration. Revenue is projected at ALL 907.9 billion, or around €9.4 billion. The budget deficit …
Bank of Albania Deputy Governor Ahmetaj says 2027 draft budget supports fiscal stability amid economic risks
Bank of Albania Deputy Governor Natasha Ahmetaj says the 2027 draft budget maintains fiscal consolidation. She told Parliament’s Economy, Employment and Finance Committee that the plan supports public finances and creates room for investment. Ahmetaj said economic activity, private-sector employment and wages have grown in recent years. Inflation remains low …
Albania’s 2027 Budget Hits €10 Billion, with Higher Pensions and New Family Benefits
Finance Minister Petrit Malaj has presented the draft 2027 budget to the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, with spending projected to reach around €10 billion for the first time. The main priorities will be supporting pensioners, children with disabilities, and families with young children. During his presentation, Malaj announced that …
Albania Allocates €40 Million to Foreign Ministry in 2027, Minister Hoxha Says EU Negotiations Remain Top Priority
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs will have a budget of 3.9 billion lek, approximately €40 million, for 2027, marking a 6% increase compared to the previous year. The draft budget was presented by Minister Ferit Hoxha to the Parliamentary Committee on Europe and Foreign Affairs. Of the total …
Dutch Ambassador Meets SPAK Chief and Prosecutor General, Judicial Cooperation in Focus
The Dutch Ambassador to Albania, Marleen Monster, has met with Prosecutor General Olsian Çela and the head of SPAK, Klodian Braho. The meetings focused on cooperation between the two countries, strengthening the rule of law, and protecting the independence of justice institutions in Albania. During the discussions, the ambassador praised …
PM Rama Announces National Exam for Public Administration Jobs, Successful Candidates to Receive Four-Year Certificate
Prime Minister Edi Rama presented a new reform on Monday called the “Merit Ladder,” aimed at ensuring that the most qualified individuals are recruited and promoted within the public administration hierarchy. As part of the reform, Rama announced the creation of a national examination system that will allow candidates to …
Albanian Parliament Speaker Peleshi Visits Prague, Czech Republic Reaffirms Support for Albania’s EU Integration
Albanian Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi has paid an official visit to the Czech Republic, where he met with Tomio Okamura, Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, and Miloš Vystrčil, President of the Senate. The meetings focused on bilateral relations, strengthening interparliamentary cooperation, and the Czech Republic’s support for Albania’s …
Rama Announces New Ministry of Public Administration as Part of Merit-Based Reform
Prime Minister Edi Rama presented a new reform called the “Merit Ladder,” which he said aims to ensure that the most qualified individuals are recruited and promoted within the public administration hierarchy. Rama emphasized that the reform also includes the establishment, for the first time, of a ministry dedicated to …
Kosovo’s imports exceeded €6.3 billion in the first ten months of 2026, marking an 8.5% increase compared to the previous year. According to the figures, Albania remains Kosovo’s main export partner, while China has overtaken Germany as the leading country of origin for imported goods. Kosovo imported more than €6.3 …
Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Italian President Sergio Mattarella jointly welcomed the mayors of all Arbëresh municipalities in Italy at the Quirinal Palace in Rome. The meeting was held in recognition of the Arbëresh community, which has preserved the Albanian language, traditions, and identity for more than five centuries. During …
At a time when emergencies and various disasters are putting response capabilities to the test, search and rescue teams are working to improve their readiness and skills to handle critical situations. As part of these efforts, teams from Albania and Kosovo held a joint training exercise in the Krraba area. …
Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Monday a new baby bonus scheme, which is expected to take effect on July 1, 2027. Under the proposed scheme, families will receive monthly financial support for each newborn child over a five-year period. In a Facebook post, Rama stated that the amount of …
TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ Oerd Bylykbashi, the Democratic Party’s co-chair of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform, accused the Socialist Party of lacking the political will to address OSCE/ODIHR recommendations. Speaking at the committee’s meeting, Bylykbashi said the reform should prioritise separating the state from the ruling party and …
TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – Albanian President Bajram Begaj and his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, on Monday hosted the mayors of all Arbëreshë municipalities in Italy at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, highlighting the community’s role in preserving the historic bonds between the two countries. The Arbëreshë, descendants of Albanians …
TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ The co-chair of the parliamentary electoral reform committee Damian Gjiknuri said the electoral reform process had fallen behind schedule and risked missing its agreed deadlines due to lack of consensus with the opposition. Addressing the committee meeting, Gjiknuri said the work had fallen behind the planned …
TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – Albania’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.4% in October 2026, up from 2.3% a year earlier, driven mainly by higher food and transport prices, data from the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) showed on Monday. Consumer prices increased by 0.5% from September, according to INSTAT’s …
TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – “Talk to the Prime Minister” platform has recorded more than 971 interactions with citizens to date, the Agency for Media and Information (MIA) said on Monday. The platform collects questions, concerns, criticism, suggestions and opinions from citizens both in Albania and abroad. Complaints account for …
TIRANA, November 9 /ATA/ – Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met today with Head of the European Union Delegation to Albania, Ambassador Sofia Moreira de Sousa, who presented him with a copy of the 2026 Progress Report for Albania. Minister Hoxha described this report as the most …