President Begaj sets May 9, 2027, as date for Albania’s local elections
Albanian President Bajram Begaj has decreed May 9, 2027, as the date for the country’s next local elections. The Electoral Code requires voting to take place on one of four Sundays between April 15 and May 15. During consultations, the Socialist Party, the Social Democratic Party and the State Election …
Albania Protests Enter Day 18 as Rama Calls for Dialogue
The protests by students and citizens against the government continue this Friday, marking their 18th consecutive day. Despite repeated calls for dialogue from Prime Minister Edi Rama, protesters remain firm in their position, demanding his resignation. Earlier today, Rama once again shared images on social media showing chairs placed outside …
Albania’s 2027 Local Elections: Opposition Boycotts President Begaj’s Consultations on Election Date
President Bajram Begaj will hold consultations with representatives of political parties this Friday to determine the date of the 2027 local elections, in a process that begins with most opposition parties rejecting his invitation. The first meeting is scheduled for 9:00 AM with representatives of the Socialist Party, while representatives …
Student Protests: EU Ambassador Says Violence Cannot Be a Way to Express Discontent
The European Union Ambassador to Albania, Sofia Moreira de Sousa, visited Elbasan this Friday, where she attended the fourth meeting of the CoR-Albania Joint Consultative Committee. Referring to recent developments in the country, the ambassador stressed that violence cannot be a means of expressing discontent, while emphasizing the responsibility of …
Albanian Diplomat Bashkim Zeneli Dies at 78
Diplomat, former MP and publicist Bashkim Zeneli passed away this Friday at the age of 78. According to reports, Zeneli died in a hospital abroad. Zeneli served as a journalist, a member of the Albanian Parliament, and Albania’s ambassador to Germany and Greece. He was also one of the early …
SPAK Hosts International Anti-Corruption Meeting in Tirana, Bringing Together Representatives from 28 Jurisdictions
Albania’s Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) hosted the 16th meeting of the Law Enforcement Network (LEN), part of the OECD Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN), in Tirana from October 27 to 29. In a statement published on social media on Friday, SPAK announced …
President Begaj Sets May 9, 2027, as Date for Local Elections in Albania
President Bajram Begaj has decreed May 9, 2027, as the date for the next local government elections in Albania. In an official statement, the Presidency announced that the decision was made following consultations with representatives of political parties represented in Parliament and the State Election Commissioner. The consultations were attended …
EU Enlargement Draft: Kosovo Makes No Progress in Fundamental Areas
The European Commission is set to adopt and publish its annual EU progress reports on Wednesday, November 4, along with the enlargement package. According to draft versions of these documents, Kosovo is among the countries that have made no progress or have recorded only limited progress in most areas. The …
Pope Leo XIV Welcomes Albanian Bishops and Diocesan Administrators in Rome
Pope Leo XIV welcomes the bishops and diocesan administrators of Albania in a private audience at the Vatican during their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit, a periodic visit made by bishops from each country to the Vatican every five years. During the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, the bishops …
Albania’s 2027 Fiscal Package Sparks Backlash Over Higher Taxes and Investment Risks
The American Chamber of Commerce warns of risks to foreign investment as the government’s 2027 fiscal package faces growing opposition from businesses, lawmakers and economists. by Sidonja Manushi TIRANA, Albania – Albania’s government has unveiled a controversial 2027 fiscal package, proposing significant changes to value-added tax, dividend taxation, personal income …
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Andis Salla has presented a budget of around ALL 18 billion for 2027, a 10% increase on the initial 2026 allocation. The plan prioritises farmer support, agricultural competitiveness, food safety and preparations for European Union integration. Rural development remains the main funding priority, with ALL …
The National Gallery of Arts has opened In the Present – Creativity Fund 2026 at HangArt-Kinostudio. The exhibition brings together new works by 16 Albanian artists. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport launched the open call for the first time in 2026. The gallery selected 10 established artists and …
European Union Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa has handed Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha a copy of the 2026 Progress Report on Albania during a meeting at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Hoxha described the report as the most comprehensive annual assessment of Albania’s progress towards European …
Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Italian President Sergio Mattarella received the mayors of all Arbëreshë municipalities in Italy at the Quirinal Palace in Rome. The meeting highlighted the community’s enduring role in Albanian-Italian relations and its contribution to their shared European heritage. Begaj described the Arbëreshë as the foundation of …
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 …