Gonzato: Protecting Refugees Is a Moral Duty and Part of Albania’s EU Journey
Silvio Gonzato took part in an event marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. UNHCR Albania, Albania’s Ministry of Interior, and other partners organized the event in Tirana. During his remarks, Gonzato stressed that the Refugee Convention remains a cornerstone of international protection for people fleeing persecution, violence, …
Headline: Gogu: Follow the Money to Fight Organized Crime
Justice Minister Toni Gogu took part in the informal meeting of the Council of Europe’s Justice Ministers. He spoke during a panel on the role of financial intelligence in combating money laundering and financial crime. During his remarks, Gogu stressed that the main challenge today is not collecting financial information. …
EU Enlargement Commissioner: Albania Takes Important Step Toward EU Membership
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that Albania has recently made significant progress on its path toward European Union membership. According to Kos, Albania met the Interim Benchmarks Assessment Report (IBAR) requirements on the rule of law. As a result, the country can now begin the process of closing …
European Parliament Reaffirms Support for Albania’s EU Path, Says Schieder
Andreas Schieder said the European Parliament will reaffirm Albania’s strong commitment to the European Union. Speaking during a plenary session of the European Parliament, Schieder praised Albania’s progress in the accession process. He noted that the country opened all negotiation clusters within just 13 months. In addition, Albania recently achieved …
Kosovo and European Commission Review EU Support and Reform Progress
Kosovo and the European Commission held the annual meeting of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Monitoring Committee. The meeting focused on the implementation of EU financial and technical support for Kosovo. In addition, participants reviewed reforms that support Kosovo’s path toward European integration. Since 2007, the European Union has …
Germany Reaffirms Strong Support for Albania’s EU Membership
Ferit Hoxha met with Günter Krichbaum during his visit to Luxembourg. The two officials discussed Albania’s path toward European Union membership. They also reviewed the current momentum of the EU enlargement process. Furthermore, Hoxha said they exchanged views on the opportunities created by the renewed focus on enlargement across Europe. …
The False Civil Society and the Real One
In Albania, real civic society is no longer in donor-funded conference rooms. It is in the streets. By Mrika Temali Tirana Times, June 16, 2026 – Thirty-five years after the fall of communism, Albania offers a bitter paradox. The European Union, Western governments and international foundations have spent millions indeed …
UEFA Inspects Albania’s Stadiums Ahead of EURO U-21 2027
UEFA representatives continued inspections in Albania as preparations advance for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2027, which Albania will co-host. First, UEFA experts visited stadiums over a four-day inspection tour. They assessed technical and operational readiness for the tournament. They focused on lighting systems, backup generators, security measures, and other …
Housing prices continue to rise as tourism drives property market demand
TIRANA, June 16 – Housing prices in Albania continued to rise during 2025. At the same time, transaction volumes fell in the second half of the year. The Bank of Albania said the trend requires more time and data to determine whether it reflects a slowdown or a correction after …
Fuel prices cut, diesel at 180 ALL per litre, petrol at 168 ALL per litre
TIRANA, June 16 – The Transparency Board has decided to reduce fuel prices in Albania. It cut diesel by 3 ALL per litre and petrol by 2 ALL per litre. Under the decision, diesel will sell at a maximum retail price of 180 ALL per litre. The board set the …
The Startup Albania grant program continues to help innovative businesses grow across Albania. Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj highlighted the program’s impact by sharing the success story of SunEasy, a startup that has expanded after receiving support through the 2024 Grant Scheme. According to Ibrahimaj, the right funding …
Albanian Defence Minister Ermal Nufi reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to NATO during the Athens Defence Conference, organized by the Delphi Economic Forum and the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). Nufi said Europe faces an increasingly challenging security environment. Therefore, he stressed that stronger strategic coordination among allies is …
Albanian Defence Minister Ermal Nufi visited Athens on an official trip, where he was warmly received by his Greek counterpart, Defence Minister Nikos Dendias. The main focus of the visit was strengthening bilateral cooperation between Albania and Greece in defence and security. Both sides highlighted the positive and constructive momentum …
Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj said the government will approve a new investment law within this year. This reform will improve the business climate and align Albania with EU standards. She made the statement at a press conference. She added that investment policy remains one of the government’s …
The Government of Albania and the United Nations signed the Albania–UN Cooperation Framework 2027–2031 in Tirana. As a result, both sides reaffirmed their joint commitment to sustainable development and improved wellbeing across the country. In this context, Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu signed the agreement on behalf of Albania. Meanwhile, …
The public sports complex at the Lungomare in Vlora continues to attract both residents and visitors. As a result, it has become one of the most frequently used public spaces in the city. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of the complex on social media. He highlighted its modern facilities …
Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti attended a ceremony at Camp Bondsteel in Ferizaj. As a result, he highlighted the continued importance of international security cooperation in the region. The event marked the handover of command of the U.S. Army Regional Support Group – Balkans to Colonel Kurt A. Rorvik. …
TIRANA, June 29 – Parliament held the inaugural meeting of the Subcommittee on Public Information Integrity, Disinformation and Foreign Interference under the chairmanship of Iris Luarasi. The subcommittee includes Iris Luarasi as chair, Agron Gjekmarkaj as deputy chair, and Ardit Bido, Arbjan Mazniku and Greta Bardeli as members. Meanwhile, the …
TIRANA, June 29 – The parliamentary committee on Europe and Foreign Affairs approved three draft laws covering agriculture, energy and public administration reform during its latest meeting. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Fatmir Guri presented a draft law on commercial certificates for agricultural products. He said the measure …
TIRANA, June 29 – European Union Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato called on newly graduated magistrates to carry out their duties with integrity, honesty, courage and humility. He said every decision they take will directly affect citizens’ lives and trust in the justice system. Meanwhile, Gonzato spoke at the National …