Rama Forces UK’s Farage Onto Backfoot Over Albanian Criminals
British far-right leader fails to land a punch with Albania’s prime minister in fiery row on social media over the number of Albanians held in UK jails. Original post Here
NATO’s Defence Spending Plan Poses Challenge for Balkan States
The Western military alliance’s new national spending benchmark on defence and security may cause problems for smaller and poorer NATO member states in the Balkans who cannot afford 5 per cent of GDP. Original post Here
Rule of Law or Rule by Law? Albania’s EU Path Faces a Crisis of Credibility
Jerina Zaloshnja As Albania accelerates the formal process of European Union accession—opening negotiation chapters at a pace that seems to outstrip democratic reforms—it faces an urgent and unavoidable truth: a country cannot genuinely integrate into the EU without first building a functioning rule-of-law society. No volume of technical chapters opened …
Balkan Countries ‘Failing to Enforce Freedom of Information Laws’: Report
Freedom of Information laws in the six Western Balkan countries may look robust, but public institutions all too often find ways to obstruct transparency, a new BIRN report has found. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: June 30, 2025
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Leaving Albania, the Country’s Youth Seek a More Stable Future
An inability to plan for the future is driving many young, educated Albanians to leave their homeland; experts say the government will have to address the trend sooner or later. Original post Here
Week in Review: Boom and Bust
From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here
Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive
When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here
BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo
In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here
Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania
Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here
The countries of the Balkans are coming to understand just how much Donald Trump enjoys transactional displays of admiration. Original post Here
Albania’s public revenues have increased by 31% over the past three years. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance aims to increase public revenues by €1.2 billion compared with 2024 by the end of this year. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said the increase reflects sustained economic growth and the formalization of Albania’s …
Dinamo City will face Pafos on Thursday, August 27, at 19:00 in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off. The match will take place at Limassol Stadium and will decide which team advances to the league phase of the competition. The 1-1 draw at Elbasan Arena has left …
TIRANA, August 27 – The Military Meteorological Service said stable atmospheric conditions would affect Albania on Thursday. The weather would remain clear across most of the country. Meanwhile, some passing clouds would appear over mountainous areas in the east and northeast. Winds would blow from the southeast to the northwest …
Albania will make basic product prices more transparent for consumers through the new “PriceWatch Albania” platform. The government plans to launch the platform in September. Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said today that the platform will allow citizens to view and compare the prices of basic products. They will …
Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu has presented the government’s new political priority, focusing on improving citizens’ quality of life. This autumn, the “Social Albania” initiative will launch a new housing program for young couples and families. As the new political season begins, the government will put “Social Albania” at the …
Following competitions in various sports, it is now judo’s turn at the “Taranto 2026” Mediterranean Games, a sport that has brought Kosovo some of its greatest successes on the international stage. Kosovo’s judokas will compete on August 28 and 29 in Taranto, Italy, aiming to win medals at this major …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:9dddf98d-d243-4601-a1ef-6c184aa886ab-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:9dddf98d-d243-4601-a1ef-6c184aa886ab-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-turn=”assistant”> Domestic electricity production increased by 34.4%, while exports rose by 55.4% in the second quarter of the year. Lower imports improved the country’s energy balance, although consumption and energy losses remain a challenge. Domestic electricity production increased by 34.4% in the …
The government has launched a program to help 300 public administration employees purchase homes under favorable conditions. Teachers, doctors, police officers, and employees of other public institutions can benefit from the scheme by applying through the e-Albania platform by September 25. The program provides financing for the purchase of a …
Velipoja continues to be one of the most popular destinations for both domestic and international visitors during the summer season. At the peak of the season, the beach is filled with tourists, while its peaceful atmosphere and wide-open spaces remain among the main reasons holidaymakers choose the area. The long, …