Q&A: Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán on the war in Ukraine, international cooperation and the economy
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke to the Kossuth Radio programme “Good Morning Hungary” on March 31, 2023. Zsolt Törőcsik: Soon all the Western tanks promised to Ukraine will arrive in that war-torn country. Several countries have already offered fighter planes, and the British have sent munitions containing depleted uranium – …
Strengthening democratic institutions a U.S. priority, says nominee for U.S. ambassador to Albania, David J. Kostelancik
TIRANA, April 2, 2023 – Strengthening democratic institutions in Albania is a U.S. priority, says David J. Kostelancik, a career diplomat appointed by President Biden to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Albania. He made the comments in his remarks in front of the Committee on Foreign Relations in …
Albania voices support for Thaci as trial starts in The Hague
TIRANA, April 3, 2023 – Albania has voiced support for Kosovo’s former president Hashim Thaci and three other ex-leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), whose trial started on Monday in The Hague on alleged war crimes. All of the defendants firmly deny the accusations and formally entered not-guilty pleas …
Rama introduces salary increase to PM’s office employees
Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a meeting with the employees of the Prime Minister’s Office, communicated the salary increase. He stated that such an increase should have been made a long time ago, but the conditions have caused it to be delayed. “It’s been so many years that we work …
DP’s candidate for local elections in Kruja withdraws
Another Democratic Party (DP) candidate for the May 14 elections has withdrawn from the race. It is about the candidate of the municipality of Krujë, Sabah Sheta, who announced his decision through a post on Facebook. With the withdrawal from the race, Sabah Sheta brings to 6 the number of …
Albania’s economy increased 4.84% in 2022
Economic growth in Albania for 2022 was 4.84%. This is what the Minister of Finance and Economy, Delina Ibrahimaj, said this Friday during a press conference. Ibrahimaj noted that growth has mainly been registered in the construction and tourism sectors. According to her, the reconstruction process is continuing at a …
Govt still discussing fiscal amnesty with internationals
Minister of Finance and Economy, Delina Ibrahimaj, stated that the government is still working on the fiscal amnesty draft. In a press conference, Ibrahimaj said that it is important that this draft be consulted with international partners. According to her, this is in order to avoid hasty actions, which may …
Albania, Bulgaria sign agreement on social insurance
Albania and Bulgaria have signed an agreement on social insurance, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced through a post on social networks. The head of the government says that this step is another success for the recognition of social insurance for Albanians abroad. “The Agreement on Social Insurance between Albania and …
Vlora, two arrested for hitting brother-in-law with car
Two brothers have been declared wanted by the Vlora police after allegedly hitting their brother-in-law with a vehicle. The incident happened on Thursday due to a family conflict. As a result, the 38-year-old with the initials A.M., who is currently in the hospital under the care of doctors, was injured. …
Report Warns of Challenges in Western Balkans’ Energy Transition
New report from Global Energy Monitor and Bankwatch Monitor says EU and US-backed plans to reduce the dependence of the Western Balkans on Russian gas could make the region’s energy transition ‘even harder’. Original post Here
Remembering Janusz Bugajski: Scholar, Mentor, and Lifelong Friend of the Balkans Janusz Bugajski (1954–2025) The international academic and analytical community has lost one of its most lucid and principled voices. Janusz Bugajski, the distinguished American analyst of Eurasian and Balkan affairs, passed away on October 18, 2025, at the age …
Organised crime networks are using call centres in Albania to defraud people across Europe, conning them with promises of big profits from scam investments and employing sophisticated social-engineering techniques. Original post Here
The UK’s ambitious agenda for the London summit of the Berlin Process reflects its commitment to the Western Balkans region but also its own domestic priorities, starting with illegal migration. Original post Here
By Marjana Doda, This feature draws on exclusive insights from an interview with Ambassador Tayyar Kagan Atay, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Tirana. On the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of diplomatic relations, Ambassador Atay reflects on the unique depth of Albanian–Turkish ties—links shaped by shared history …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
The courtroom killing of a judge in Tirana has prompted calls from Albanian judges and prosecutors for authorities to get serious about their ‘almost non-existent’ security. Original post Here
The Rama–Kurti clash over the war crimes tribunal highlights deeper structural tensions, from unimplemented agreements to competing regional agendas. The latest clash between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Kosovo’s Albin Kurti is more than another exchange of political insults. It reflects the fragile state of relations between Albania and …
Hundreds of protesters rallied in the Albanian capital on Friday demanding justice for former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) on trial in The Hague, denouncing the proceedings as an attack on the wartime struggle against Serbian forces. The demonstrators, many waving KLA flags and chanting slogans such as …
Protesters in the Albanian capital expressed anger at the ongoing trial of wartime Kosovo Liberation Army officers at the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, saying the defendants were freedom fighters, not criminals. Original post Here
By Bernd Fischer It is becoming increasingly difficult to justify yet another book dealing with some aspect of World War II. Of all the armed conflicts of past centuries, World War II has engendered the most interest as well as an exhausting amount of written material. The opening of the …