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Ibrahimaj: European Commission highlights progress in employment and vocational training

TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ The European Commission has acknowledged Albania’s progress in employment, education and vocational training, noting advances in various programmes and policies designed to strengthen skills and facilitate access to the labour market. Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj shared key findings from the European Commission’s 2026 Albania …

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FM Hoxha meets Romanian Prime Minister Niculescu, secures support for Albania’s EU accession

TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/  – The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu in Bucharest on Thursday , with discussions focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and Romania’s support for Albania’s European Union membership bid. The talks centred on further strengthening the partnership …

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Health Minister: 33.4 billion leks allocated to social welfare, monthly support planned for children up to age five

TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ – The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has earmarked 33.4 billion leks for social welfare programmes in 2027, focusing on vulnerable families, people with disabilities and other groups facing economic and social hardship, Minister Klodiana Spahiu said on Thursday. Presenting the 2027 draft budget to …

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European Commission urges Albania to expand social reuse of confiscated assets

TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ The European Commission has called for strengthening the capacities of the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK), with a particular focus on improving operating procedures, increasing transparency in the use of assets and ensuring their timely management in order to preserve their …

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Rama announces new dialogue platform, says three groups of students were threatened over attempts to meet him

TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama announced today that a new platform for communication and dialogue with citizens will be launched tomorrow. Speaking at a press conference alongside European Union Ambassador Sofia Moreira de Sousa, who handed him the European Commission’s Progress Report, Rama said the platform would give …

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EU Ambassador presents 2026 Progress Report to National Council for European Integration

TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/  – European Union Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa on Thursday presented the 2026 Progress Report on Albania to the National Council for European Integration and its two co-chairs, Taulant Balla and Jorida Tabaku. In a statement, the ambassador stressed the importance of political dialogue …

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2027 Fiscal Package sparks debate at Tirana International Fair

TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ The Tirana International Fair brought together Albanian and international businesses, with a panel discussion on the competitiveness of the Albanian economy focusing on business challenges, the need for stronger dialogue with public institutions and concerns over the impact of the 2027 fiscal package on business costs …

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Bank of Albania governor Sejko meets European Central Bank Executive Board member Cipollone

Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko met European Central Bank Executive Board member Piero Cipollone to discuss payment modernisation and Albania’s financial integration with the European Union. Cipollone is visiting Albania to attend the eighth International Conference on Regional Card Schemes and Financial Market Infrastructures for Small-Value Payments. Sejko highlighted …

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PM Rama says Albania has entered the final stretch of EU accession negotiations

Prime Minister Edi Rama has described the European Commission’s 2026 progress report as the best Albania has ever received. He made the remarks at a joint press conference with European Union Ambassador Sofia Moreira de Sousa, who formally presented the report. Rama said the document marked a new path towards …

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EU Ambassador: European Commission’s Progress Report Sends a Simple Message — Albania Has Made Progress

Prime Minister Edi Rama and the European Union Ambassador to Albania, Sofia Moreira de Sousa, held a joint press conference on Thursday, one day after the European Commission published its progress report on Albania. During her remarks, the EU Ambassador said the report’s clear message was that Albania had made …

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PROFILE | Who is Esmeralda Hasani, the new head of Albania’s State Intelligence Service?

Esmeralda Hasani is a lawyer specialising in international law and holds a doctorate in political science. She has more than 20 years of experience in government institutions, international organisations and European integration, with a career spanning law and public administration. Hasani has served as an adviser in the Prime Minister’s …

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Rama in Dublin: Sazan Island has not been sold, and Albania remains committed to joining the EU

Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed several key domestic and international issues in remarks to reporters in Dublin, where he is attending the European Political Community meeting. Asked about the war in Ukraine and relations with Russia, Rama said it had been a mistake to focus exclusively on military support for …

News
US Ambassador Eric Wendt meets students in Tirana, calls young people key to Albania’s future

US Ambassador to Albania Eric Wendt met with Rochester Institute of Technology students at the American Academy of Technology in Tirana (AATT). During the visit, Wendt learned about education and innovation programmes designed to prepare young people for future challenges and help them take on leadership roles in society. The …

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PM Rama responds after protesters throw eggs at him in Dublin: “This is democracy”

Prime Minister Edi Rama has responded to a protest by a group of Albanians in Dublin, where demonstrators threw eggs at him and chanted slogans against the Albanian government as he was leaving a venue. Asked by reporters about the incident, Rama played it down, describing it as an expression …

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Albania and Italy strengthen police training ties as Hita visits Rome academy

During an official visit to Italy, Albanian State Police Director General Skënder Hita and his delegation visited the Italian Police Academy in Rome, where they were welcomed by its director, Mario Viola. During the meeting, Hita praised the cooperation between the two institutions and stressed the importance of education and …

News
PM Rama meets Ukrainian President Zelensky at Dublin summit

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday, where both leaders were attending the ninth European Political Community summit. Footage released from the summit showed the two leaders talking at a table with a third person. Speaking to reporters in the Irish capital, Rama …

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Spanish Cultural Week brings award-winning film ‘A House on Fire’ to Tirana

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Spanish cinema, known for its original storytelling and its ability to blend humour with human drama, is taking centre stage in Albania as part of Spanish Cultural Week. The programme features A House on Fire (Casa en flames), directed by Dani de la Orden, a …

News
School in Vlora undergoes complete renovation

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Marigo Posio School in the southern Albanian city of Vlora is set to reopen to pupils and teachers following a comprehensive renovation of its facilities. Renovation works have been completed, with the installation of classroom equipment and teaching materials still under way to ensure modern …

News
INSTAT: Albania’s labour costs rise 42.9% from 2020

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Employers in Albania faced significantly higher labour costs in 2024, with average hourly labour costs reaching 559 leks, up 42.9% from 391 leks in 2020, according to a Labour Cost Survey published by the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT). The average monthly labour cost per …

News
Berisha questioned by SPAK over complaint against judge, vows legal action against judicial watchdog chiefs

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha was questioned by the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) on Thursday as the complainant in a case involving judge Irena Gjoka, and said he would file further criminal complaints against senior judicial officials. Speaking to reporters after appearing …

News

PROFILE | Who is Esmeralda Hasani, the new head of Albania’s State Intelligence Service?

Esmeralda Hasani is a lawyer specialising in international law and holds a doctorate in political science. She has more than 20 years of experience in government institutions, international organisations and European integration, with a career spanning law and public administration. Hasani has served as an adviser in the Prime Minister’s …

News

Rama in Dublin: Sazan Island has not been sold, and Albania remains committed to joining the EU

Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed several key domestic and international issues in remarks to reporters in Dublin, where he is attending the European Political Community meeting. Asked about the war in Ukraine and relations with Russia, Rama said it had been a mistake to focus exclusively on military support for …

News

US Ambassador Eric Wendt meets students in Tirana, calls young people key to Albania’s future

US Ambassador to Albania Eric Wendt met with Rochester Institute of Technology students at the American Academy of Technology in Tirana (AATT). During the visit, Wendt learned about education and innovation programmes designed to prepare young people for future challenges and help them take on leadership roles in society. The …

News

PM Rama responds after protesters throw eggs at him in Dublin: “This is democracy”

Prime Minister Edi Rama has responded to a protest by a group of Albanians in Dublin, where demonstrators threw eggs at him and chanted slogans against the Albanian government as he was leaving a venue. Asked by reporters about the incident, Rama played it down, describing it as an expression …

News

Albania and Italy strengthen police training ties as Hita visits Rome academy

During an official visit to Italy, Albanian State Police Director General Skënder Hita and his delegation visited the Italian Police Academy in Rome, where they were welcomed by its director, Mario Viola. During the meeting, Hita praised the cooperation between the two institutions and stressed the importance of education and …

News

PM Rama meets Ukrainian President Zelensky at Dublin summit

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday, where both leaders were attending the ninth European Political Community summit. Footage released from the summit showed the two leaders talking at a table with a third person. Speaking to reporters in the Irish capital, Rama …

News

Spanish Cultural Week brings award-winning film ‘A House on Fire’ to Tirana

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Spanish cinema, known for its original storytelling and its ability to blend humour with human drama, is taking centre stage in Albania as part of Spanish Cultural Week. The programme features A House on Fire (Casa en flames), directed by Dani de la Orden, a …

News

School in Vlora undergoes complete renovation

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Marigo Posio School in the southern Albanian city of Vlora is set to reopen to pupils and teachers following a comprehensive renovation of its facilities. Renovation works have been completed, with the installation of classroom equipment and teaching materials still under way to ensure modern …

News

INSTAT: Albania’s labour costs rise 42.9% from 2020

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Employers in Albania faced significantly higher labour costs in 2024, with average hourly labour costs reaching 559 leks, up 42.9% from 391 leks in 2020, according to a Labour Cost Survey published by the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT). The average monthly labour cost per …

News

Berisha questioned by SPAK over complaint against judge, vows legal action against judicial watchdog chiefs

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha was questioned by the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) on Thursday as the complainant in a case involving judge Irena Gjoka, and said he would file further criminal complaints against senior judicial officials. Speaking to reporters after appearing …