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 …
by Elez Biberaj Tirana Times, June 09, 2026 – One year after Prime Minister Edi Rama swept to a fourth consecutive term, Albania finds itself in a profoundly different place than the triumphant narrative he projected. The government that claimed unrivaled authority now faces the most sustained civic uprising in …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with Ireland’s Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne, to discuss Albania’s progress and prospects on its path toward European Union membership. During the meeting, the two officials reviewed developments in Albania’s EU integration process. They also exchanged …
Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, met in Vienna with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker during an official visit to Austria. Kurti thanked Austria for its long-standing support for Kosovo since the 1990s. He also highlighted Austria’s role in state-building efforts and its contribution through the NATO-led KFOR mission. Furthermore, …
Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected claims that a planned Zvërnec project involves political backing from the White House or former U.S. President Donald Trump. He addressed journalists from EU member states at a press conference. He said public debate distorts the facts and focuses on family connections. Furthermore, he said …
The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Tonin Harapi, recognizing him as one of the most important figures in Albanian national music. He was born on June 9, 1926, in Shkodër. He grew up in a rich musical environment. He learned …
Prime Minister Edi Rama responded to a statement by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who claimed that over 100,000 Albanian citizens protested a tourism investment project in Zvërnec. Rama reacted on the social media platform “X.” He said no approved project, construction permit, or final development plan exists. Furthermore, he said …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Albania guarantees the right to protest and allows citizens to demonstrate freely. He spoke at a press conference with EU journalists at the Prime Minister’s Office. Furthermore, he addressed recent protests against the Zvërnec investment project. He said a violent incident involving a security …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met in Dublin with Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee. He said both sides reaffirmed excellent bilateral relations between Albania and Ireland. Furthermore, Hoxha said the two countries held constructive discussions on strengthening political dialogue. They also agreed to …
Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi held an official visit in Athens, where he met the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis. Furthermore, the visit took place as part of Albania’s parliamentary diplomacy tour with key strategic partners in Europe and the region. During the meeting, both sides praised the …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said the planned shipbuilding project in Pashaliman will create major employment opportunities and strengthen vocational education in Albania. He spoke at the 3rd National Conference on Vocational Education. He said the project will initially create 400 jobs and later expand to 800. Furthermore, Rama highlighted an …