Week in Review: Faint Hopes and No Regrets
In a world that increasingly finds itself turned upside down, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week tries to make sense of the past, present and future. Original post Here
“The EU is a blessing for us,” Rama: Europe is too slow, it must speed up
Prime Minister Edi Rama presented 13 of his drawings at the premises of the Embassy of Italy in Berlin, as part of an event linked to his personal exhibition “Chrysalizing”, currently being held at Société Gallery. The exhibition also includes sculptures created by Rama, who has long been known for …
Democratic Party launches statute reform, amendment calendar approved
At a meeting held this Friday, the Working Group for amendments to the Statute of the Democratic Party of Albaniaapproved both the working methodology and a detailed calendar for the process of reviewing the party’s founding document. According to the decision taken, the process will extend throughout the month of …
May 1 protest in Albania, workers: Urgently approve a living minimum wage
International Workers’ Day was marked in Albania with a protest organized by the Union of Trade Unions of Albania in front of the Ministry of Economy of Albania. Participants held banners reading “A worker’s life is not a business cost” and “Wages to live, not to survive,” calling for better …
Salianji: Democratic Party cannot continue like this, leadership change is required
Former DP MP Ervin Salianji has reacted to the latest developments in the race for the leadership of the Democratic Party, expressing criticism over how the party is being managed under Sali Berisha. In a Facebook post, Salianji writes that Berisha shows a lack of responsibility, which could lead to …
50 parachutists from Italy open the tourist season at the city’s aerodrome
A group of 50 parachutists from Italy have opened this year’s tourist season at the Gjirokastër aerodrome. The Italian parachutists performed jumps from an aircraft at an altitude of 3,000 meters, putting on a real spectacle for air sports enthusiasts. The activity was organized as a collaboration between Skydive Albania …
Albania, the country with the highest risk of poverty in Europe
Albania remains the country with the highest risk of poverty in Europe. Despite efforts to develop the economy and increase income per capita, more than 40% of households in the country are deprived of several essential payments. In Albania, 44.5% of households with children and 37% of households without children …
Over 26,000 fines and 48 arrests in one week, Police intensify road checks
With the increase in travel flows toward tourist and coastal areas, the Albanian State Police has stepped up controls across the country, using radars and drones to monitor road traffic. During the past week, more than 26,000 administrative measures were imposed for various traffic violations, ranging from not wearing seat …
Over 1 million vehicles registered in Albania, 35% circulating in Tirana
The road vehicle market in Albania continues to expand steadily at the beginning of 2026, with the highest concentration in Tirana. According to data from INSTAT for the first quarter of 2026, the total number of road vehicles in circulation reached 1,068,000, marking a 9% increase compared to the same …
Employment rises in Albania, but young people remain economically insecure
Albania has recorded an increase in employment, creating more jobs than a decade ago. However, many of these positions remain seasonal, insecure, and poorly paid, failing to keep pace with rising prices. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, around 13,800 new jobs were created, while the unemployment rate fell …
By Zef Preci Tirana Times, September 30, 2026 – For more than two decades, Albania has had legislation requiring senior public officials to declare their assets and financial interests. Yet persistent concerns over unexplained wealth suggest that the central issue is no longer simply whether officials submit asset declarations. The …
Investigators examine weapons deals, state-linked defense companies and the role of businessman Ron Yeffet after allegations of international arms trafficking surfaced in recordings released by former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj. Tirana Times, October 03, 2026 – A series of searches by Albania’s special prosecutors has opened a potentially significant …
Albania lost 2-1 to Finland at Helsinki Olympic Stadium in a Nations League League C Group 1 match. Rey Manaj put Albania ahead in the fourth minute with a header from Kristjan Asllani’s corner. Goalkeeper Etrit Berisha then made a mistake in the 22nd minute and had to intervene outside …
Electricity distribution losses in Albania fell to 15.6% in the first eight months of 2026, according to data from the Electricity Distribution System Operator. The figure marks a continued improvement from 18.93% in 2023, 17.93% in 2024 and 16.96% in 2025. Regional data also show lower losses. Fier recorded the …
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said Albania is among the leading candidates in the European Union enlargement process. In an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, she placed Albania and Montenegro at the front of the process, followed by Moldova and Ukraine. Kos said enlargement had achieved more …
Albania U19 secured a second consecutive victory over Lithuania U19, coming from behind to win 2-1 in a friendly match at the Vora Stadium. Lithuania took the lead in the first half, scoring from one of their few chances of the game. However, Albania responded strongly after the break and …
The International Dance Festival Tirana (IDFT) will launch its fifth edition on October 3, bringing a rich program of contemporary dance, international artists and artistic companies to the Albanian capital through October 21. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said the festival will feature 17 performances in nine …
The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Michel Tarran, met today with representatives of the Union of Judges, the National Association of Judges and the Association of Prosecutors of Albania to discuss recent developments in the country’s justice system. According to the OSCE Presence, the discussion focused on …
Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media today from “Gran Tour Albania,” an event that brought Italian collectors of vintage cars to the historic city of Gjirokastër. “Motoring enthusiasts and tourists added a new color to Gjirokastër in autumn,” Rama wrote alongside photos from the event. Rare vintage …
The National Library in Tirana hosted the presentation of “Usta Josifi and the Saze of Përmet,” a new monographic study by author Niko Mihali dedicated to one of Albania’s richest musical traditions. The book explores the urban folk music tradition of Përmet and focuses on the life and contribution of …