PM pitches large public sector wage increases, leading to concern over costs, political use
TIRANA, April 8 – Albania’s government is preparing to approve large wage increases in the public sector that could lead to the average salary going up 60 percent by 2024, Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced. According to the government, the new system of public sector wages will bring the …
Albanian PM Threatens to Quit International Arbitration Body
Premier Edi Rama reacted angrily to a decision by a World Bank-funded international arbitration body to grant around 110 million euros in compensation to an Italian businessman who claimed he was politically persecuted in Albania. Original post Here
Op/Ed: The Quad: Searching for purpose in yet another new regional constellation
By ALBA CELA Last week, the Foreign Affairs ministers of Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo launched the “Western Balkans Quad – 100% alignment with EU Common Foreign Security Policy” as a platform to address CFSP in the sensitive geopolitical context brought about by Russian aggression in Ukraine. All countries …
CEC introduces electronic platform on political parties’ funding monitoring
Central Elections Commission (CEC) has introduced Wednesday the Electronic Platform for Financial Reporting, which aims at strengthening the monitoring of the financing of political parties and the transparency of campaign funds. During the working table, the Head of the CEC, Ilirjan Celibashi, said that this platform will contribute to efficient …
Colombian woman busted with drugs in Rinas airport
A Colombian citizen has been arrested this Wednesday at Rinas airport, after a quantity of cannabis was found in her handbag. Law enforcement revealed that the citizen with the initials C.J, 26 years old, who was traveling from Colombia to Albania was discovered during the control at the second line. …
Two arrested and two wanted as drugs group dismantled in Fier
Police of Fier have finalized this Thursday the coded operation “Unique”, where quantities of narcotics heroin, cocaine and cannabis were seized. During this operation, the citizens, Klejdi Çela and Zhanri Hajdari, were arrested, while the citizens, Marsel Korreshi, previously convicted for the same criminal offense, and Selim Koçi were declared …
Assets of Fushe-Kruja brothers seized by SPAK order
Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) seized this Thursday 5 assets of two brothers from Fushë-Kruja, Bardhok and Kastriot Shota, residents in the village of Derven. These two citizens have been investigated and are being tried by the Belgian authorities, as within a structured criminal group they have …
PM promises dignified salaries for armed forces representatives
Prime Minister Edi Rama has vowed this Thursday morning that representatives of Albania’s Armed Forces will have dignified salaries and a pension in accordance with their ranks, as he invited the youths to join the army. During the military promotion ceremony of the Olympic champions, the head of the government …
Gerdeci case/ Mediu in court, family members of the victims are also expected to be present
Today, the preliminary hearing for Fatmir Mediu is expected to take place at 14:30. The former Minister of Defense, Fatmir Mediu, is accused of abuse of duty and abuse of office under the military code. The prosecution asks the court to continue the trial. The last session was postponed after …
Agreement on cyber-security with Emirates, Rama: Protects the integrity of the country
This Thursday, the agreement between Albania and the United Arab Emirates on cyber security was signed. In his speech, Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that the agreement is strategic, as it preserves the integrity of our country. He said that the United Arab Emirates has been by Albania’s side in …
From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here
When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here
In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here
Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here
Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …
Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here
June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …
By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania 20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …
Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here
by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …