Albania signs €1bn deal with Italy and UAE on renewable energy, new undersea connection
TIRANA, Jan. 16, 2025 – Albania, Italy and the United Arab Emirates have signed a trilateral agreement to develop renewable energy infrastructure, marking a €1 billion investment to produce and share solar, wind and other clean energy resources. The project will include an undersea cable linking Albania’s port of Vlorë …
Emigration and Infrastructure Woes Hold Back Albania’s Olive Growers
Albania should be well-placed to take advantage of growing demand for olive oil amid rising prices, but poor roads and a lack of labour during harvest season are stifling the sector. Original post Here
Albania Greenlights Jared Kushner Plan to Develop Island as Luxury Resort
The government has granted Strategic Investor Status to a proposal by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump, to build a luxury resort on the uninhabited island of Sazan. Original post Here
Albania’s Government Criticised for Pre-Election ‘Sweeteners’
Though not strictly in violation of the law, a string of generous gestures by Albania’s government appears designed to curry favour with large segments of the electorate ahead of parliamentary polls in May. Original post Here
Often Unnoticed, Albania’s Graft Prosecutors are Targeting Mayors Too
Besides targeting political figures at the state level, special prosecutors in Albania are also going after mayors at the local level where corruption is often more prevalent. Original post Here
Albania to Register Diaspora Voters for First Time Ahead of May Polls
New regulations will allow Albanians living outside the country to cast postal ballots in the May parliamentary elections – a change long sought by most parties. Original post Here
FDI SCREENING AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR PROTECTING ALBANIAN NATIONAL INTERESTS AND ENHANCING ALIGNMENT WITH THE EU
Navigating Albania-China Relations amid Euro-Atlantic Commitments During the post-communist period, Albania’s priorities were largely defined by the need to rebuild its economy, modernize infrastructure, and reintegrate into the global political and economic systems. In its pursuit of development and modernization, the Albanian government sought partnerships with a wide array of …
FDI SCREENING AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR PROTECTING ALBANIAN NATIONAL INTERESTS AND ENHANCING ALIGNMENT WITH THE EU
Navigating Albania-China Relations amid Euro-Atlantic Commitments During the post-communist period, Albania’s priorities were largely defined by the need to rebuild its economy, modernize infrastructure, and reintegrate into the global political and economic systems. In its pursuit of development and modernization, the Albanian government sought partnerships with a wide array of …
Albania in 2025: Parliamentary Elections Approach, But ‘No Real Alternatives’ Appear
Many expect the ruling Socialist Party to win this year’s parliamentary elections again, and are placing their hopes in anti-corruption bodies to bring some genuine change by battling high-level graft. Original post Here
The Departed: Balkan Personalities Who Left the Stage in 2024
From a diplomat who fought in World War II to a Turkish cleric accused of subverting the state and a Bulgarian rock star who raised his voice for democracy, these are some of the key figures who passed away this year in the Balkans. Original post Here
*]: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=”be058c35-e82e-43c8-8d85-0d7c47dc523e” data-turn-id-container=”be058c35-e82e-43c8-8d85-0d7c47dc523e” data-testid=”conversation-turn-15″ data-turn=”user”> Residents and local government representatives gathered outside Patos Municipality on Monday to protest a proposal to merge the Municipality of Patos with the Municipality of Fier. *]: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:8d784432-a90e-4d80-a353-c5142e3e58fc-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:8d784432-a90e-4d80-a353-c5142e3e58fc-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-turn=”assistant”> *]: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:8d784432-a90e-4d80-a353-c5142e3e58fc-7″ …
Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi has been denied conditional release from pre-trial detention in The Hague. According to Klan Kosova, the request was rejected due to concerns over the risk of flight and the potential for interference with the judicial proceedings. Thaçi had offered a financial guarantee of €50,000 and …
*]: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:8d784432-a90e-4d80-a353-c5142e3e58fc-3″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:8d784432-a90e-4d80-a353-c5142e3e58fc-3″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-8″ data-turn=”assistant”> Obesity is becoming one of Europe’s biggest public health challenges, but Albania continues to rank among the countries with the lowest obesity rates on the continent. According to Eurostat data for 2022, 12.6% of Albanians aged 18 and over are classified …
At the end of June, the Municipality of Durres introduced the city’s first public beach, equipped with umbrellas and sun loungers available free of charge for visitors. The initiative has been welcomed by residents, particularly elderly beachgoers who have frequented this stretch of sand along the Taulantia promenade for years. …
*]: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=”4ca8945c-e447-4e71-aff9-53c29cb8b97e” data-turn-id-container=”4ca8945c-e447-4e71-aff9-53c29cb8b97e” data-testid=”conversation-turn-13″ data-turn=”user”> Rising temperatures have led to an increase in heat-related health emergencies across Albania. In an interview with Euronews Albania, National Emergency Service Director Skënder Brataj said that emergency teams assisted more than 6,700 people during July who sought help for heat-related …
*]: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=”5a79515d-c08e-45c0-b7db-3afcb0f8a319″ data-turn-id-container=”5a79515d-c08e-45c0-b7db-3afcb0f8a319″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-5″ data-turn=”user”> Albanian State Police Director General Skënder Hita welcomed a high-level delegation from Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, led by the Commander of Air and Maritime Operations, Major General Joselito Minuto. *]: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:8d784432-a90e-4d80-a353-c5142e3e58fc-2″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:8d784432-a90e-4d80-a353-c5142e3e58fc-2″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-6″ data-turn=”assistant”> During the meeting, …
*]: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=”10e5ebe6-16b5-4cec-91e2-c7592938b98c” data-turn-id-container=”10e5ebe6-16b5-4cec-91e2-c7592938b98c” data-testid=”conversation-turn-3″ data-turn=”user”> The 65th protest organized by activists and citizens took place in Tirana on Monday, as participants once again gathered to demonstrate against the government. *]: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:8d784432-a90e-4d80-a353-c5142e3e58fc-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:8d784432-a90e-4d80-a353-c5142e3e58fc-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-turn=”assistant”> Protesters initially assembled at Skanderbeg Square before marching …
TIRANA, August 3 – Emergency teams continue operations to extinguish a fire that broke out yesterday afternoon in Vilz village, in the Postriba administrative unit of Shkodër. The Shkodër Prefecture and the National Civil Protection Agency are coordinating the response. Local civil protection forces and the Shkodër Fire and Rescue …
TIRANA, August 3 – Italian news outlet Fanpage.it has ranked the Albanian Alps among the best-value mountain destinations for summer 2026. The report recommends Theth and Valbona Valley as ideal retreats for travelers seeking cooler temperatures during Italy’s Ferragosto holiday. According to Fanpage.it, Italy has experienced repeated heatwaves this summer, …
TIRANA, August 3 – Gjirokastër has launched “Iso mbi Kalldrëm” (Iso on the Cobblestones), a month-long cultural event that fills the city’s historic bazaar with the sounds of Albanian iso-polyphony. Gjirokastër Mayor Flamur Golemi shared scenes from the lively streets, where performances will take place every evening from August 1 …