Violations and Evasion at Currency Exchange Offices, Bank of Albania Revokes 83 Licenses
The Bank of Albania revoked the licenses of 83 currency exchange offices during 2025 following inspections that uncovered regulatory violations and financial irregularities related to cash circulation. According to the central bank, the inspections revealed shortcomings in customer identification procedures, transaction monitoring, screening against sanctions lists, and the reporting of …
Tax Authorities Audit High-Income Individuals, Identify €770,000 in Suspicious Findings
Around 200 high-income individuals in Albania are being audited as part of an intensified effort by the tax authorities to verify their wealth and income. The General Directorate of Taxes says it has identified €770,000 in suspicious findingsso far. The Tax Administration has stepped up inspections targeting individuals with significant …
Rama: ‘Open Balkan’ Was Branded a “Terrible Idea” Simply Because Vučić and I Supported It
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the Open Balkan initiative was labeled “a terrible idea” for one reason only: because it was backed by him and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. “It was considered a terrible idea for only one reason – because Vučić and I were behind it. If you removed our …
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: July 13, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Letter from Brussels: No EU ‘Super Tuesday’ for Accession Laggard Serbia
As Albania and Montenegro surge ahead, the EU is split on whether to move Serbia forward on the path to accession in the absence of tangible progress. Original post Here
Vjosa River attracts more tourists with summer rafting adventures
TIRANA, July 13 – The Vjosa River has become one of the most popular summer destinations for visitors seeking adventure and cooler temperatures. High summer temperatures have increased interest in the river’s wild landscapes, untouched nature and outdoor activities. Local and foreign tourists visit Vjosa not only to relax but …
PM Rama attends Paris summit on support for Ukraine
TIRANA, July 13 – Prime Minister Edi Rama is travelling to Paris today to attend the Coalition of the Willing summit on Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron invited Rama to the meeting, which will bring together heads of state and government. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark …
Gulf News names Gjirokastër among the world’s most spectacular summer destinations
TIRANA, July 13 – Gjirokastër has been included among the world’s 10 most spectacular and unusual destinations to visit this summer, according to a selection published by Gulf News. The UAE-based media outlet highlighted the historic Albanian city as one of Europe’s hidden gems. It praised Gjirokastër for its cultural …
Himara attracts more tourists as public beaches expand and services improve
Himara is seeing a significant increase in visitors this summer, strengthening its position as one of Albania’s most popular tourist destinations. The municipality has introduced new measures to improve services, expand public beach areas, increase accessibility and support sustainable tourism development. Himara Mayor Vangjel Tavo said the city is managing …
Over 1,000 apply for Grant 2026 as startup interest grows across Albania
TIRANA, July 13 – More than 1,000 entrepreneurs and innovators have applied for the Grant 2026 programme, showing growing interest in startups across Albania, according to the Agency for Media and Information. The agency said the applications reflect stronger engagement from young innovators and entrepreneurs who want to turn business …
President Bajram Begaj expressed his deep sorrow after a tragic fire in Domë village, Shkodër, killed a mother and her two children. Begaj shared his condolences with the victims’ relatives and offered his support to the family during this difficult time. “I feel deeply saddened by the tragedy in Domë …
Albania and Vietnam have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on employment cooperation, creating a framework for recruiting and employing Vietnamese workers in Albania. Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj and Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Public Security Vũ Chiến Thắng signed the agreement during a ceremony held in Vietnam, with representatives …
Prek Cali, a prominent figure of Albania’s national movement and leader of the Kelmendi highlanders, was born on July 29, 1878, in Mali i Jushit, Shkodër. Cali played an important role in Albania’s history during the early 20th century. He fought against the Ottoman Empire between 1908 and 1912 and …
Tirana, July 29 – The US Dollar strengthened further against the Albanian Lek (ALL) on Wednesday. The official exchange rate from the Bank of Albania showed the Dollar at 82.43 ALL. The currency gained 0.22 ALL compared with Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Euro lost 0.03 ALL and reached 93.66 ALL. The …
Tirana, July 29 – Dinamo City will host Aluminij on Thursday in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round. The Albanian side will seek a place in the third qualifying round after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Slovenia. Head coach Ilir Daja will …
Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted to a report by the Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA), which found that the opposition received more media coverage than the Socialist Party in major news broadcasts during June 2026. Rama said the findings provide clear and measurable evidence that Albania has no connection to autocratic …
Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari met with Albania’s 12 regional prefects to discuss key priorities for the months ahead. The participants focused on strengthening interinstitutional coordination and increasing the presence of public institutions in local communities. Lamallari identified public safety, the smooth running of the tourism season, and the prevention and …
Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the institutions’ initial suspicion following the discovery of human remains in the village of Kalludër, Zubin Potok, was that they could belong to the 23 intellectuals from Mitrovica who were abducted and forcibly disappeared on 19 April 1999. Speaking to the media, Kurti said …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–sticky-padding-top)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”8fc28679-8a5a-44b2-b5a1-57dd0902d361″ data-turn-id-container=”8fc28679-8a5a-44b2-b5a1-57dd0902d361″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-5″ data-turn=”user”> Albania’s Democratic Party (PD) has officially challenged before the Constitutional Court the law ratifying the €302 million loan agreement between Albania and the United States for the purchase of military equipment. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, PD Parliamentary Group …
Prime Minister Edi Rama gave a television interview from Tirana to the British broadcaster Channel 4, where he was also questioned about the ongoing protests. In response, Rama said he has reflected on the demonstrations and understands the protesters. “I have reflected a great deal on these protests and have come …