How Allocation of EU Rapporteur Jobs Might Impact Western Balkan Accession Hopes
The names of the new EU rapporteurs for each of the six Western Balkan countries will emerge over the coming weeks. The relative strength of the various party groupings in the European parliament indicates how some countries might fare better than others. Original post Here
Baku hosting Global Summit of Religious Leaders within the framework of COP29
Baku, Azerbaijan – On November 5-6, 2024, the city of Baku is hosting the Global Summit of Religious Leaders within the framework of COP29, a highly significant event that brings together religious leaders and prominent figures from around the world to discuss the challenges of the climate crisis and the …
Albanian Premier Edi Rama’s Diaspora Tour: Outreach or Electioneering?
From New York to Thessaloniki, Prime Minister Edi Rama has been travelling the world to hold meetings with Albanian diaspora communities ahead of next year’s elections. Opponents say he’s trying to avoid discontent at home. Original post Here
UNED Campus in Gjirokastra: A European Hub in the Western Balkans
By Jerina Zaloshnja It is a beautiful, joyous day in Gjirokastra. October 30, 2024. The sun shines brightly in the warm, clear blue air. From the loudspeakers at the campus of UNED, Spain’s new university in the country, Spanish music reverberates slowly. Young students dressed in traditional Gjirokastra costumes …
The UNED Campus in Gjirokaster a gateway to global academic excellence and a bridge to Europe
By Ricardo Mairal Uson It is an immense honor and privilege for me to stand before you today, on this momentous occasion—the inauguration of the UNED Center in the historic and culturally significant city of Gjirokaster. This event marks the beginning of a new chapter in the strong relationship between …
Albania struggles with hazardous waste scandal as ship awaits clearance off Durres coast
DURRES, Oct. 31, 2024 – A cargo ship laden with over 100 containers of suspected hazardous waste, which arrived in Albania from Singapore, remains anchored off the coast of Durres for the fourth consecutive day. The ship’s entry into port has been delayed by authorities awaiting necessary safety preparations, intensifying …
Is Albania Slipping into a one part-system ?
Albania is now an efficient laboratory to prove how easy it is to rebuild a totalitarian society in the conditions when the country is open to the world. The head of Albania’s opposition, Sali Berisha Albania’s former President and a former two-term Prime Minister was arrested on Saturday, Dec. …
From Ant to Colony
The late 1870s and early 1890s ushered in the Gilded Age of the U.S., where rapid industrialization and free-flowing innovations were sweeping the nation. As I see it, successful ventures from the private sector played an interesting role in the development of the state during this period. The steel conglomerate …
File Not Found: Drive for Open Data Stalls in Western Balkans
Governments in the Western Balkans committed years ago to make official data open and transparent – but a BIRN survey suggests they sometimes supply only incomplete or out-of-date information. Original post Here
USA and Albania toast the 248th Anniversary of US Independence Day
Courtesy of New York Magazine Erjola Braha, recently celebrated by Forbes Italia, presents Robert Mondavi’s wines at the official ceremony organized in Tirana on the occasion of US Independence Day. The United States Embassy in Tirana celebrated the 248th Anniversary of US Independence with a prestigious event, which saw the …
Albania continues to attract growing numbers of visitors through cruise tourism, with the Port of Saranda remaining one of the country’s main gateways for foreign tourists during the summer season. The Port of Saranda welcomed the cruise ship Seabourn Quest today, carrying 467 passengers who chose to explore the Albanian …
*]: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:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-3″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-3″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-8″ data-turn=”assistant”> The Albanian government has decided to temporarily suspend construction work and related activities in tourist areas during the summer season. The measure takes effect immediately and will remain in force until September 15, 2026. The announcement was made by Tourism Minister …
*]: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=”1b47f020-c5ab-4529-8422-350d4c117adb” data-turn-id-container=”1b47f020-c5ab-4529-8422-350d4c117adb” data-testid=”conversation-turn-9″ data-turn=”user”> Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared new footage on social media showing the progress of construction works on the Elbasan–Qafë Thanë road, describing it as one of Albania’s most important infrastructure investments. *]: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:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-4″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-4″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-10″ data-turn=”assistant”> …
Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Saturday that excavations at a site where human remains believed to belong to people missing from the 1998–99 Kosovo war have been discovered could continue for months due to the difficult terrain and the scattered nature of the remains. Speaking to reporters …
MeteoAlb meteorologist Hakil Osmani has forecast another spell of extreme heat for Albania, warning that temperatures could climb as high as 41°C in several parts of the country during the first half of August. Speaking to Euronews Albania, Osmani said the first two weeks of the month are expected to …
*]: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:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-turn=”assistant”> More than half of Albanians cannot afford to spend one week on holiday away from home due to financial constraints. According to Eurostat data, which refers to 2025 for Europe and 2023 for Albania, around 53% of households in Albania are …
*]: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=”72f69213-2f23-4414-8091-864f914f4def” data-turn-id-container=”72f69213-2f23-4414-8091-864f914f4def” data-testid=”conversation-turn-5″ data-turn=”user”> Just 25 kilometers from the town of Maliq lies Strelcë, one of the best-known villages in the Gora region, which has experienced a revival in recent years thanks to the growth of mountain tourism. Once home to more than 300 houses …
The latest edition of the Sunny Hill Festival has kicked off in Bërnicë, Pristina, attracting thousands of music fans from Kosovo and abroad. The high turnout caused long traffic queues on roads leading to the festival grounds on the opening night. The highlight of the evening was the performance by …
The first weekend of August has brought a surge of visitors to Vlora, with the city’s beaches packed with both domestic and international tourists enjoying the peak of the summer season. The start of the month has seen a significant influx of holidaymakers, many of whom have chosen the Albanian …
Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at Washington’s shifting foreign policy priorities in the Balkans, a suspicious drug trawl, surging property prices and more. Original post Here