Week in Review: Faint Hopes and No Regrets
In a world that increasingly finds itself turned upside down, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week tries to make sense of the past, present and future. Original post Here
“The EU is a blessing for us,” Rama: Europe is too slow, it must speed up
Prime Minister Edi Rama presented 13 of his drawings at the premises of the Embassy of Italy in Berlin, as part of an event linked to his personal exhibition “Chrysalizing”, currently being held at Société Gallery. The exhibition also includes sculptures created by Rama, who has long been known for …
Democratic Party launches statute reform, amendment calendar approved
At a meeting held this Friday, the Working Group for amendments to the Statute of the Democratic Party of Albaniaapproved both the working methodology and a detailed calendar for the process of reviewing the party’s founding document. According to the decision taken, the process will extend throughout the month of …
May 1 protest in Albania, workers: Urgently approve a living minimum wage
International Workers’ Day was marked in Albania with a protest organized by the Union of Trade Unions of Albania in front of the Ministry of Economy of Albania. Participants held banners reading “A worker’s life is not a business cost” and “Wages to live, not to survive,” calling for better …
Salianji: Democratic Party cannot continue like this, leadership change is required
Former DP MP Ervin Salianji has reacted to the latest developments in the race for the leadership of the Democratic Party, expressing criticism over how the party is being managed under Sali Berisha. In a Facebook post, Salianji writes that Berisha shows a lack of responsibility, which could lead to …
50 parachutists from Italy open the tourist season at the city’s aerodrome
A group of 50 parachutists from Italy have opened this year’s tourist season at the Gjirokastër aerodrome. The Italian parachutists performed jumps from an aircraft at an altitude of 3,000 meters, putting on a real spectacle for air sports enthusiasts. The activity was organized as a collaboration between Skydive Albania …
Albania, the country with the highest risk of poverty in Europe
Albania remains the country with the highest risk of poverty in Europe. Despite efforts to develop the economy and increase income per capita, more than 40% of households in the country are deprived of several essential payments. In Albania, 44.5% of households with children and 37% of households without children …
Over 26,000 fines and 48 arrests in one week, Police intensify road checks
With the increase in travel flows toward tourist and coastal areas, the Albanian State Police has stepped up controls across the country, using radars and drones to monitor road traffic. During the past week, more than 26,000 administrative measures were imposed for various traffic violations, ranging from not wearing seat …
Over 1 million vehicles registered in Albania, 35% circulating in Tirana
The road vehicle market in Albania continues to expand steadily at the beginning of 2026, with the highest concentration in Tirana. According to data from INSTAT for the first quarter of 2026, the total number of road vehicles in circulation reached 1,068,000, marking a 9% increase compared to the same …
Employment rises in Albania, but young people remain economically insecure
Albania has recorded an increase in employment, creating more jobs than a decade ago. However, many of these positions remain seasonal, insecure, and poorly paid, failing to keep pace with rising prices. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, around 13,800 new jobs were created, while the unemployment rate fell …
The Albanian Parliament approved today the resolution on Albania’s European Union membership process. Lawmakers passed the resolution with 114 votes in favor and one abstention. The ruling majority and the opposition joined votes to support the resolution. Meanwhile, Democratic Party MP Bujar Leskaj abstained. The resolution calls for broad cooperation …
Alis will represent Albania tonight at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with the song “Nân”. The song delivers an emotional message about motherhood. Albanians living abroad can support Alis by voting with code 13 during the live semifinal televote. Meanwhile, Albanians living in non-participating countries can vote online through esc.vote. …
Ferit Hoxha said today that Albania’s European integration remains a non-negotiable strategic objective. Speaking in Parliament, Hoxha responded to an interpellation requested by Democratic Party MP Tritan Shehu. The discussion focused on a joint article published in a German newspaper by Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić …
Bajram Begaj received today the credentials of the Ambassador of Palestine, Rana Abusibaa, in Tirana. He welcomed the ambassador and wished her success in her diplomatic mission in Albania. Furthermore, Begaj said he is confident she will help strengthen friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. He also said …
Bajram Begaj received today the credentials of the Ambassador of Kuwait, Mohsen Alajmi, in Tirana. He welcomed the ambassador and expressed confidence in strengthening relations between the two countries. Furthermore, Begaj reaffirmed Albania’s solidarity with Kuwait in the face of recent attacks from Iran. He described them as a clear …
Edi Rama attended the Charlemagne Prize ceremony in Aachen, Germany, where Mario Draghi was honored. In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Rama described his participation as a special privilege. He praised Draghi as a key European figure in moments of crisis and difficult decision-making. Rama said Draghi represents European courage …
Erjona Ismaili said today in Parliament that European Union integration must remain a national project above political divisions. She called on the opposition to contribute constructively to Albania’s path toward the EU. Furthermore, she said Albania is at a historic moment, aiming to close negotiations by 2027 and achieve full …
Petrit Malaj said today in Parliament that Albania achieved strong macroeconomic progress. He referred to international reports from the U.S. Department of State and the European Commission. Furthermore, Malaj said Albania recorded 4% economic growth in 2024. He added that inflation remained controlled at 2.2%. In addition, he noted that …
Alis performed “Nan” on the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 semifinal. The audience across Europe applauded the performance. The song delivered a strong emotional message about motherhood. The staging included powerful visuals, including references to the Albanian mother figure. Furthermore, the performance attracted attention from international media as …
TIRANA, May 14 – Albania has secured a place in the Grand Final of Eurovision 2026 after Alis qualified from the second semi-final in Vienna with the song “Nân”. Alis delivered an emotional performance that combined Albanian musical elements with a modern stage presentation, earning Albania one of the 10 …