Albanians Remember ‘Extraordinary Woman’ Who Endured Torture for Her Faith
A Catholic nun who was persecuted as an enemy of the Communist regime in her short lifetime, Marie Tuci is today widely honoured in Albania as both a saint and a symbol of courage. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: April 14, 2025
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
BIRN Fact-Check: Is Albanian PM’s Promise of 2030 EU Accession Realistic?
Experts say the Albanian prime minister’s pledge to secure membership of the EU by 2030 is little more than a “fairytale” for the electorate ahead of elections in May. Original post Here
Italy Sends More Migrants to Albania After Change of Plan
A new shipload of migrants from Italy arrived in Albania on Friday after the Rome government changed the rules on the use of its detention centre in the Balkan country after previous legal setbacks to the offshoring project. Original post Here
Albania’s ‘Elite Tourism’ Pits David Against Goliath in Fight for Water
In southwestern Albania, a government plan to harness a village’s natural springs for the needs of a luxury tourism development has locals up in arms. Original post Here
Albanian TikTok Shutdown Tool Raises Privacy Concerns
Albania’s cyber security authority said it will use Deep Packet Inspection to enforce the government’s TikTok ban – but experts say the use of the technology has no legal basis in Albania and could be used for censorship. Original post Here
Albanian Institute for International Studies Invited as Institutional Partner at NATO Public Forum 2025
TIRANA TIMES Albania April 7,— The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) has been invited to serve as an Institutional Partner at the 2025 NATO Public Forum, set to take place on June 24-25 in The Hague during the NATO Summit. The invitation, extended by NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division, recognizes …
Arrested Albanian Mayor Accused of Running ‘Disturbing’ PR Campaign From Jail
Published wiretaps appear to show that Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj, who is facing corruption charges, has been running a publicity campaign using cronies in the mass media to target his perceived enemies in the justice system. Original post Here
Albania Failing to Eradicate Banned Pesticides from Agricultural Products
When it comes to banning pesticides, Albania takes its cue from the EU, yet substances deemed dangerous to human health are still being used years later. Original post Here
Trump’s New Tariffs and Their Impact on Albania and the Western Balkans
By Tirana Times Editorial Board TIRANA, April 4, 2025 Tirana Times — President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on global trade partners have sparked concern and debate across Europe and the Western Balkans, with Albania finding itself in an uneasy position—politically aligned with the United States but economically vulnerable and …
Forty-one environmental organisations from 28 countries have called for a halt to the planned development by Jared Kushner of Albania’s Sazan island as a luxury resort, saying it threatens the valuable biodiversity of the area. Original post Here
Kosovo, Bulgaria and Turkey have signed the Board of Peace Charter, under Donald Trump’s auspices, but several other Balkan countries are still pondering whether to join the initiative. Original post Here
Balkan countries are continuing to sacrifice their remaining clean river stretches to development and pollution, a new assessment warns. Original post Here
The Bulgarian mystic’s doomy predictions continue to grab headlines in Albania and elsewhere – even though many seem fabricated and sometimes appear to serve Russian geopolitical narratives. Original post Here
Tirana, 21.01.2026 – Research on disability has increasingly moved into the centre of international scientific and policy discussions, reflecting broader debates about inclusion, quality of life and access to public space. Against this wider backdrop, the King Salman Center for Disability Research (KSCDR) has opened nominations for the 4th cycle of …
While Albania’s Edi Rama welcomed an invitation to join Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania and Greece merely confirmed that they had received invitations. Original post Here
When the “Choo Choo” Train Never Came It begins with a scene that now feels almost surreal. In 2022, during a staged media event in Tirana, Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku enthusiastically explained to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the Tirana–Durrës–Rinas railway would be completed by 2024. …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
The United States has once again issued an unusually clear and public warning about the threat posed by Albanian organized crime groups and their links to Latin American drug cartels, framing the issue not only as a criminal challenge but as a direct risk to Albania’s national security and economic …
As the new year gets off to a cold start in the region, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories takes a look at the high expectations and sobering realities of what 2026 holds in store. Original post Here