The Illusionists of Brussels
by Genc Pollo, President of Paneuropa-Albania On March 30, at the Nieuwspoort conference center in The Hague, the Director-General for Enlargement at the European Commission, Mr. Gert-Jan Koopman, as a panelist in the debate “The Netherlands and Europe between power blocs,” spoke about the progress of EU enlargement. Regarding Albania, …
Albania U-19 girls draw 2–2 with Montenegro
Albania U-19 girls drew 2–2 with Montenegro. The teams played the second-round opener of the European Championship. The match took place at the “House of Football.” Coach Daniela Kodra started Helshani in goal. She lined up Hysa, Nika, Kadiolli, and Bajramaj. She added Vata, Bushati, and Ago. She also selected …
Albania to open path for production of naval vessels and military drones, defence minister says
TIRANA, April 10 – Defence Minister Ermal Nufi said Albania plans to develop domestic production of naval vessels and military drones. He spoke after a government meeting where the cabinet approved several defence-related decisions. The announcement marks a shift toward expanding the country’s military industry with foreign cooperation. In this …
Government to monitor price rises and to subsidise vulnerable groups
TIRANA, April 10 – Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said the government is closely monitoring price movements and will step in to support vulnerable groups. She spoke after a cabinet meeting on Friday, where she presented recent decisions and assessed market developments. She said authorities are tracking prices in …
Yzeiraj: Tax systems ready to connect to European network
Albania is preparing its tax declaration and registration systems. The goal is to link them with European systems. Deputy Finance Minister Endrit Yzeiraj spoke to the media. He said the aim is for Albania to join the European tax registry. He explained, “Digital systems used by the General Tax Directorate …
Lt. Gen. Kingji hosts Italian counterpart; Albania a reliable partner in international operations
TIRANA, April 10 – Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Arben Kingji held talks in Tirana with his Italian counterpart General Luciano Portolano. The visit focused on defence cooperation and NATO-related priorities. Both sides also reviewed regional security developments. Kingji presented recent developments within …
“Between Form and Spirit”: The Artistic Legacy of Painter Kristi Baba
Galeria FAB opened its doors last night for the exhibition “Between Form and Spirit”, honoring the work of the late artist Kristi Baba. Baba passed away in 2021 at the age of 30 due to COVID-19. He was known for his graphic cycles and mixed techniques, blending the human figure …
100 million euro “Gateway to the Alps” project in Shkodër aims to extend tourism season
TIRANA, April 10 – The government approved a major infrastructure project for Shkodër County, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said on Wednesday. He described the initiative, called “Gateway to the Alps”, as a key investment for regional development and tourism expansion. Karakaçi said the project carries a total value …
Cultural tourism rises in first three months of the year, Shkodër Castle leads visitor rankings
TIRANA, April 10 – The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports said cultural tourism recorded strong growth in the first three months of 2026. Minister Blendi Gonxhja published data showing increased visitor numbers across archaeological parks, museums, and heritage sites. The figures point to higher interest from both domestic and …
Local government reform should focus on service quality, not number of municipalities, minister says
TIRANA, April 10 – Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo said the territorial and administrative reform should prioritise service quality for citizens. He said the debate should not focus only on the number of municipalities. He spoke after a government meeting on Wednesday. Demo said the ministry works …
Exports continued to remain in positive territory in August 2026, but at a significantly slower pace than in previous months. The latest data from INSTAT show that sales of Albanian goods abroad reached ALL 20.5 billion, an increase of 1.6% compared with August last year. Albania’s foreign trade saw an …
Protesters gathered this Thursday in Skanderbeg Square in Tirana and began marching towards the Prime Minister’s Office as part of the latest protest against the government. This marks the 110th protest held so far, with demonstrators opposing the government and its policies. Organizers have announced that the protests will continue …
High prices for basic goods are reducing consumer spending. Although these are essential food items, citizens say they are buying less and are even avoiding fruits or vegetables that are too expensive. “They are very expensive. We can’t afford them. There is high unemployment, and we are barely managing. How …
By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, September 17, 2026 – The Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ has convicted former President Hashim Thaci and three other Kosovo Liberation Army leaders of war crimes but acquitted them of crimes against humanity. The sentence for Thaci is 25 years. This is happening while Aleksandar Vucic is resigning from …
Millions of euros flowed to companies linked to Strabag while Oleg Deripaska remained a major shareholder, exposing gaps in Albania’s ability to identify who ultimately benefits from public money Tirana Times, September 17, 2026 – For years, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s economic interests in Albania were largely invisible. They did …
The Hague verdict against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders has drawn reactions from the sports world. Former Albania national team footballer Taulant Xhaka has publicly expressed his support for Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. Xhaka posted a poster on Instagram featuring the four former KLA …
Endrit Thaçi, son of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, has voiced support for a protest organized by the War Veterans’ Organization of the Kosovo Liberation Army (OVL-KLA). He shared the organization’s call for a “Protest in Defense of the KLA.” Meanwhile, the protest will take place on Friday at 12:00 …
RTSH has officially begun implementing its 2026–2030 transformation and restructuring process. The Task Force established to lead and coordinate the process held its first meeting today. The European Broadcasting Union organized the meeting as a workshop focused on RTSH’s Transformation Strategy and its implementation. Radka Betcheva, the European Broadcasting Union’s …
Charles L. Smith, the presiding judge of the Trial Panel, has issued a decision launching procedures for reparations to victims in the case against Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli. The Trial Panel issued the decision on September 16 and published it today. It decided to initiate …
Justice Minister Toni Gogu said today that Albania will continue its digitalization process and use of artificial intelligence. He stressed that the country will protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Gogu spoke in Parliament during the review of the draft law on the ratification of the Council …