Op/Ed: EU’s ASM draft: The good, the bad and the unwritten
By Daniel Serwer, Nov. 15, 2023 The EU-proposed draft of the statute for the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities in Kosovo is now widely available. Is it good, or is it bad? The answer of course is complicated and depends not only on what is in the proposed text but also what …
EU and Germany invest €14.6 million on waste management project in Albania
TIRANA, Nov. 15, 2023 – The European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) are investing €14.6 million on a project aimed at improving waste management in Albania. The “EU for Circular Economy and Circular Economy for Sustainable Urban Development” project, managed by GIZ Albania …
Council of Europe raises human rights concerns over Italy-Albania agreement on asylum seekers
TIRANA, Nov. 15, 2023 – There are human rights concerns over a recently concluded agreement between Italy and Albania regarding the disembarkation and processing of asylum applications for irregular migrants rescued at sea, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović said this week. Mijatović joined a growing chorus …
Van engulfed by flames in Vlora
A van was engulfed in flames around 01.00 this Wednesday’s midnight in Vlora. Following th incident, police surrounded the area and started verifications to identify the causes. Preliminarily, it is suspected that another vehicle was also damaged by the flames. However, the burning van is owned by a water company. …
New details on human remains found in Saranda revealed
Police of Saranda reacted this Wednesday to the discovery of bone remains, which are in the process of decomposition in the village of Xarrë. Authorities said the remains will be sent for further examination to the Scientific Police Institute to identify who they belong to. “Yesterday evening, in the village …
Kucova’s mayor summoned at SPAK after not declaring sentencing
Mayor of Kuçova, Kreshnik Hajdari, appeared this Wednesday in the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK). Before the local elections, Hajdari did not declare in the declaration form the punishment for violating the border in Greece. A day ago, the Central Election Commission (CEC) decided not to remove …
Rrogozhina’s mayor trial on vote-rigging charges postponed
The preliminary hearing for the mayor of Rrogozhina, Edison Memolla, has been postponed. Journalist Ermal Vija told ABC that the reason for the postponement of the session was the absence of the prosecutor of the case, Edvin Kondili. Memolla has been charged with election corruption. Regarding this case, the Special …
Three youths arrested in Tirana for luring foreigners to invest in fictitious stock market
Three young people from Tirana have been arrested this Wednesday after deceiving foreign citizens over the phone to invest in fictitious stock markets. According to preliminary verifications, they were employed in a call center entity in Yzberisht area, and in cooperation with each other called foreign citizens. They introduced themselves …
Elbasan teacher suspended after mistreating autistic 5-year-old
Municipality of Elbasan reacted this Wednesday regarding the case of the 5-year-old boy with autism, after it was reported that he was mistreated by the kindergarten teacher. In the official announcement, it is clarified that the case was referred by the parents on October 26 and immediately on October 27, …
Rama inspected Drilon park in Pogradec
Prime Minister Edi Rama inspected this Tuesday morning the transformation site of Tushemishti Promenade and Drilon Park in Pogradec. During his visit, Rama said that this area will be multiplied to 150 hectares, all in function of the development of tourism. In the meantime, the Park will be accessible in …
TIRANA, June 4 – Representatives of the Albanian Customs Administration took part in a regional meeting on firearms trafficking held on 2–3 June in Sarajevo. The event took place under the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) project. It also …
TIRANA, June 4 – Albania lost 0–1 to Israel in a friendly match at “Air Albania” stadium in Tirana. The result marked an unsuccessful start to the new era under Italian coach Rolando Maran. Maran started Anis Mehmeti in attack alongside Armando Broja and used Qazim Laçi in an advanced …
TIRANA, June 4 – Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi concluded a parliamentary diplomacy tour of the Baltic states with an official visit to Lithuania, where officials reaffirmed support for Albania’s European Union membership process and its bid to host a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in 2027. During meetings with Lithuanian …
Finance Minister Petrit Malaj held a meeting with the head of the International Monetary Fund mission for Albania, Diego Cerdeiro, as part of regular consultations on economic and fiscal developments. During the meeting, both sides discussed the performance of the Albanian economy. They noted that it continues to show stable …
TIRANA, June 4 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said nature protection should not stand in opposition to development. He said both objectives can advance together through responsible planning and architecture. Rama made the remarks at the second edition of the Bread & Heart festival in Tirana. Speaking at the event, …
TIRANA, June 4 – Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced the discovery of significant archaeological remains near Lushnja. He said specialists identified a new archaeological site in the village of Zgjana. According to Gonxhja, experts from the National Institute of Cultural Heritage worked with the Department of Archaeology …
TIRANA, June 4 – Albania’s Construction Cost Index rose 1.1% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the INSTAT, Albania’s Institute of Statistics. According to the institute, higher labour costs drove the annual increase. The “Wage Expenses” group rose 4.8%. In …
TIRANA, June 4 – Tourism in Shkodër has recorded a significant increase in recent years, strengthening the local economy and boosting activity across hotels, gastronomy, trade and tourism services. According to the Director of Tourism at Shkodër Municipality, Renato Lumçi, visitor numbers rose by 30% in the first five months …
TIRANA, June 4 – The Tax Administration has set 5 June 2026 as the deadline for applications to the Fiscal Peace Agreement and called on taxpayers to meet all legal conditions. The procedure runs online through the “e-filing” system. Meanwhile, the process covers registered taxpayers, including individuals and business entities …
The fourth edition of the Tirana European Youth Film Festival starts today at the “Agimi” art center in the capital. The festival will bring several days of European films for young audiences and film lovers. The festival promotes contemporary European cinema, supports young filmmakers, and encourages cultural dialogue through film. …