Speaker receives 2026 progress report, says parliament fully committed to Albania’s EU membership
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ – Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi on Thursday reaffirmed parliament’s commitment to Albania’s European Union membership bid during a meeting with EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa, who formally presented the 2026 European Commission Progress Report. The report assesses the implementation of reforms and Albania’s …
General Directorate of Prisons and Council of Europe step up cooperation to improve penitentiary system
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ The General Directorate of Prisons and the Council of Europe are seeking to deepen their cooperation to improve Albania’s penitentiary system, ensure respect for human rights and align institutional practices with European standards. Director General of Prisons Sadleva Bodo met with Giulia Re, Head of the Council …
Ibrahimaj: European Commission highlights progress in employment and vocational training
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ The European Commission has acknowledged Albania’s progress in employment, education and vocational training, noting advances in various programmes and policies designed to strengthen skills and facilitate access to the labour market. Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj shared key findings from the European Commission’s 2026 Albania …
FM Hoxha meets Romanian Prime Minister Niculescu, secures support for Albania’s EU accession
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ – The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu in Bucharest on Thursday , with discussions focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and Romania’s support for Albania’s European Union membership bid. The talks centred on further strengthening the partnership …
Health Minister: 33.4 billion leks allocated to social welfare, monthly support planned for children up to age five
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ – The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has earmarked 33.4 billion leks for social welfare programmes in 2027, focusing on vulnerable families, people with disabilities and other groups facing economic and social hardship, Minister Klodiana Spahiu said on Thursday. Presenting the 2027 draft budget to …
European Commission urges Albania to expand social reuse of confiscated assets
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ The European Commission has called for strengthening the capacities of the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK), with a particular focus on improving operating procedures, increasing transparency in the use of assets and ensuring their timely management in order to preserve their …
Rama announces new dialogue platform, says three groups of students were threatened over attempts to meet him
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama announced today that a new platform for communication and dialogue with citizens will be launched tomorrow. Speaking at a press conference alongside European Union Ambassador Sofia Moreira de Sousa, who handed him the European Commission’s Progress Report, Rama said the platform would give …
EU Ambassador presents 2026 Progress Report to National Council for European Integration
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ – European Union Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa on Thursday presented the 2026 Progress Report on Albania to the National Council for European Integration and its two co-chairs, Taulant Balla and Jorida Tabaku. In a statement, the ambassador stressed the importance of political dialogue …
2027 Fiscal Package sparks debate at Tirana International Fair
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ The Tirana International Fair brought together Albanian and international businesses, with a panel discussion on the competitiveness of the Albanian economy focusing on business challenges, the need for stronger dialogue with public institutions and concerns over the impact of the 2027 fiscal package on business costs …
Bank of Albania governor Sejko meets European Central Bank Executive Board member Cipollone
Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko met European Central Bank Executive Board member Piero Cipollone to discuss payment modernisation and Albania’s financial integration with the European Union. Cipollone is visiting Albania to attend the eighth International Conference on Regional Card Schemes and Financial Market Infrastructures for Small-Value Payments. Sejko highlighted …
Amid fresh starts and problems old and new, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week suggests that many countries in the region are at a crossroads. Which way will they go? Original post Here
Heavy rainfall and rising water levels have caused flooding in Theth, a tourist destination in northern Albania. Overflowing streams have sent water towards several tourist businesses, reaching areas around guesthouses and disrupting their activities. Meanwhile, the area has been without electricity for around 24 hours due to the conditions. Continuous …
Kosova’s Assembly is expected to vote again on the law governing the Specialist Chambers in The Hague. The vote concerns the same text approved on October 6 and returned for reconsideration by President Justina Shiroka Pula on October 22. If at least 61 lawmakers vote in favour, the assembly will …
Albania’s National Library hosted Polish writer Malgorzata Rejmer on Thursday as part of “READ FOR REAL – European Authors Day 2026”. The European literary initiative promotes authors, reading and cultural dialogue between countries. This marks Albania’s first participation in the initiative, joining the European network of countries hosting literary events. …
The Academy of Sciences of Albania has organised the two-day international scientific conference “AI Horizon – A New Space for Creativity and Innovation”. The conference focuses on developments in artificial intelligence and the opportunities it offers across different fields. It began on November 12. The Academy’s Section of Technical and …
The Butrint Management Foundation is preparing to launch an emergency conservation project covering seven monuments at Butrint National Park. Experts identified the sites as priorities after documenting and assessing their condition. The project will focus on the Western Gate, the fresco near the Western Gate, the Northern Gate, the Lake …
Albania is preparing a more comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptoasset markets to support new digital financial services, clarify operators’ responsibilities and strengthen consumer protection. Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation Martin Kajo presented the draft law to the Committee on Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development. He said technological advances …
The Agency for Media and Information (MIA) said the decision to host the next NATO summit in Tirana remains unchanged. In a social media post, MIA clarified that Prime Minister Edi Rama’s statement a day earlier concerned only the summit’s timing, not the cancellation or reversal of the decision to …
Albania’s 2–0 win over Finland caught the attention of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who shared a story from a dinner he attended during the European Political Community summit. Rama said he was seated at the same table as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the prime minister of Finland, the …
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met with Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset on the sidelines of the European Political Community (EPC) summit. Kurti announced the meeting in a Facebook post, saying the talks focused on Kosovo’s accession to the Council of Europe. The prime minister said membership would …