In Albania, Public Sector Political Hires are Undermining Democracy
The current protests reflect frustration with a clientelist system that rewards party loyalty over merit and uses the public administration to distribute privileges and resources to supporters. Original post Here
PM Rama: Ukraine is rebuilding Europe’s courage at reconstruction conference
TIRANA, June 27 – Prime Minister Edi Rama took part in the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, Poland, which brings together heads of state and government, international financial institutions, business representatives and civil society organisations from around the world. The conference aims to strengthen international support for Ukraine and mobilise …
Bënja Spa Rehabilitation Continues, Boosting Tourism Potential
Work on the rehabilitation of the Bënja thermal baths continues steadily. The project aims to improve tourist infrastructure, organize visitor services, and protect the area’s unique natural values. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment clarified that the destination remains under development. Therefore, recently published images show temporary construction stages rather than …
Territorial Reform Aims to Strengthen Municipalities and Balance Development
The Special Commission on Administrative-Territorial Reform held its eleventh public hearing in Korça. The meeting gathered local stakeholders to discuss proposals for Albania’s new territorial reform. Speaking at the hearing, Arbjan Mazniku said that ten years after the 2014 reform, it is time to evaluate its results and identify improvements. …
Rama Meets Ukrainian Prime Minister Svyrydenko in Poland
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama met Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko in Gdańsk, Poland, on Wednesday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026. Albania’s Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, also attended the talks. During the meeting, the leaders discussed ways to strengthen …
Cyprus EU Presidency Backs Albania’s EU Path, Hoxha Says in Nicosia Visit
Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha visited Nicosia, Cyprus, where he held a series of high-level meetings focused on EU integration and bilateral cooperation. First, Hoxha met with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to strengthening cooperation and advancing Albania’s European agenda. In addition, he …
Peleshi Meets Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican, Reaffirms Strong Albania–Holy See Relations
Niko Peleshi met Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican. The meeting reaffirmed strong relations between Albania and the Holy See. Both sides emphasized shared values and cooperation. They highlighted peace, dialogue, and mutual respect. Peleshi presented a symbolic gift from Albania. The gesture expressed friendship and appreciation toward the Holy …
Begaj: Scientific Research Is Key for Albania’s European Path
Bajram Begaj attended an international scientific conference in Tirana focused on the importance of toponymy in shaping Albanian cultural identity. The event was organized by the Institute of Anthropology under the Academy of Sciences. Researchers and academics discussed how place names reflect language, history, and identity. Begaj said that scientific …
A stronger Union for the Mediterranean for a stronger Mediterranean
By H.E. Ambassador Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean. Tirana Times, June 25, 2026 – They say no man ever steps in the same river twice. The universe is in a constant state of flux: such is my sentiment as I reflect on my mandate at the Union for the …
Austria Leads FDI, but Real Estate Tells the Bigger Story
Bank of Albania data show Austria topping first-quarter foreign investment flows, while property and construction continue to shape Albania’s FDI model. Tirana Times June 25, 2026 – The figures place Austria ahead of some of Albania’s traditionally dominant investment partners, including Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. Yet the data also …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again defended the upcoming Kanye West concert in Tirana, scheduled for Saturday evening. In a post on social media, Rama shared footage of the completed concert venue, saying the stadium is ready and that the event will place Albania on the global map of music fans. The prime …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:e5659a20-7ccd-4ac7-ac8b-8f8f08377e9a-28″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:e5659a20-7ccd-4ac7-ac8b-8f8f08377e9a-28″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-58″ data-turn=”assistant”> Visitors to the southeastern Albanian region of Kolonja are not only exploring its natural attractions and cultural heritage sites, but also learning how to prepare traditional dishes before enjoying them. Cooking alongside local residents has become one of the area’s most popular experiences …
Albania’s Competition Authority has launched a market monitoring process focused on the retail sale of essential grocery products, following complaints from citizens and concerns raised by members of parliament over the prices of everyday consumer goods. According to an official statement, the monitoring will cover the country’s main supermarket chains …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again reacted to negative online reviews, this time sharing a video highlighting critical ratings of Rozafa Castle in Shkodra. The prime minister said such posts are harming Albania’s tourism sector and expressed hope that prosecutors will swiftly take action against those he described as individuals who …
Prime Minister Edi Rama met with young people in Jalë on Saturday, where he discussed the recent protests and the impact of social media algorithms. Rama said algorithms play a significant role in amplifying negativity, online noise and manipulated content, describing such videos as “fuel added to a fire” that, he argued, was started by …
One of the world’s best-known rappers, Kanye West, was welcomed by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who shared footage of their meeting on social media. The video shows Rama introducing the American artist to aspects of Albania’s culture and history. West arrived in Albania ahead of his concert scheduled for …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha, together with Prime Minister Edi Rama, took part in an open discussion with 150 young activists from Albania, North Macedonia and Montenegro at #RinCamp2026. Albania’s EU accession process and the country’s progress towards membership were among the key topics discussed during the panel organised by the National …
by Monika Grill Tirana Times, July 11, 2026 – “K’cimi i Tropoja” – the dance that endured over centuries and kept the Albanian identity alive, has been officially declared part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. “K’cimi i Tropoja” refers to a traditional …
Tirana, July 11 – International artist Kanye West will perform today in Tirana. The concert will take place at Eagle Stadium, a venue built specifically in the Kashar area. To ensure public safety and manage traffic, Tirana Police has announced temporary road restrictions around the event area. From 07:00 to …
Tirana, July 11 – Justice Minister Toni Gogu said justice system reforms and the implementation of the National Reform Agenda under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans are concrete steps toward Albania’s European Union membership. Gogu said a strong, independent and accountable justice system remains a key pillar of …