Albania Under Water: A Return to a Hobbesian State of Nature
TIRANA TIMES, December 6, 2025 – Albania is once again under water. Torrential rains over the past days have triggered massive flooding across almost the entire country, exposing not only the fragility of urban infrastructure but, more fundamentally, the long-term failure of governance. From the northern plains to the southern …
Europe Tightens the Fight Against Corruption, Albania at a Crossroad
By Zef Preçi, Executive Director of ACER As Albania presents itself as closer than ever to the European Union, a troubling contradiction has emerged in its domestic legal and political debate. While the EU is moving decisively toward tougher and more harmonized criminal rules against corruption, Albania is simultaneously discussing …
Housing Boom Prices Out Albanians
Allegations of money laundering in construction and claims of informal power networks, including the case of Ergys Agasi, fuel concerns over a distorted housing market Tirana Times, TIRANA, 05 January 2026 – For many middle income families in Tirana, buying an apartment has shifted from a realistic life goal to …
In Albania, Women Often Quit Local Councils to Make Way for Men
Democracy and the rights of women are being undermined in Albania by the practice of filling electoral candidate lists with women, only to have them resign en masse once the results are in and cede their seats to men. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 5, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Balkan States Give Divided Reactions to US Strike on Venezuela
Albania and Kosovo applauded the Trump administration’s military operation against Venezuela’s regime and the ousting of Nicolas Maduro, while other states in the region initially remained silent or called for calm and restraint. Original post Here
Roaming Like at Home and the Western Balkans
By Genc Pollo Tirana, 02 January 2026 – Today’s decision by the European Union to grant “roaming like at home” to Ukraine and Moldova deserves praise. It is a practical citizen-centered step that immediately lowers costs improves connectivity and makes Europe tangible in everyday life. Yet the non inclusion of …
Albania in the EU Fast Lane – Accelerating Without Democratising?
Tirana’s EU accession process is running in top gear – but worryingly, there’s no sign this is being matched with a democratic deepening at home. Original post Here
Albania 2026: Power Under Investigation
As Albania enters 2026, the country stands at a political and institutional crossroads shaped decisively by the shocks of 2025. What initially appeared to be a year of electoral routine and managed stability evolved instead into the most serious confrontation between executive power and the justice system since the launch …
Saudi Arabia’s Yemen Action: Between Deterrence, Diplomacy, and Regional Responsibility
The latest Saudi action in Yemen should be understood not as escalation for its own sake, but as part of a broader strategic approach that combines deterrence with diplomacy, aimed at safeguarding regional stability and preserving internationally recognized state authority. Riyadh’s move comes in response to concrete security concerns arising …
President Bajram Begaj visited Përmet and praised its development model. The model combines cultural and religious heritage, natural resources and local traditions. First, Begaj met Përmet Mayor Alma Hoxha and local officials. They discussed the growing number of tourists and the return of young people from abroad to invest in …
Egnatia continued its winning run in the Abissnet Superiore. The champions beat Skënderbeu 2-1 in Rrogozhinë on Friday. Skënderbeu created the first big chance in the 11th minute. However, Bismark missed a penalty after Dajsinani saved his shot. Egnatia took the lead three minutes later. Albanese found the net in …
The new European Union Ambassador to Albania, Sofia Moreira de Sousa, has officially started her mission in Tirana. In a video message from the Albanian capital, Moreira de Sousa highlighted her commitment to supporting Albania’s European integration process. “It is an honor to serve in Albania at such an important …
Durrës turned into a seaside sports arena as the first day of the Beach Volleyball event brought excitement to the “Taulantia” promenade. Teams competed in an energetic atmosphere. Meanwhile, spectators followed the matches closely and enjoyed the action by the sea. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared footage from the event …
Albania offers an ideal balance between relaxation and cultural exploration, according to Spanish travel magazine “Viajar.” The country combines historic cities, Roman ruins, beautiful beaches and a rich culinary tradition. Albania has something for every traveler. Visitors can enjoy the coast, explore historic towns, hike through mountains and discover important …
Music, folklore, poetry and Macedonian art have arrived in Albania as part of North Macedonia Cultural Week. The event began on September 3 and will continue through September 6. The cultural week opened with a special concert at the Concert Hall of the Orthodox Church in Tirana. The event combined …
Albania has completed a two-year process to review and reassess Natural Monuments across the country. The authorities carried out extensive fieldwork and detailed assessments. The process followed Albania’s legislation on protected areas. It also brought together experts, regional administrations, local governments and communities. Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj said experts visited …
Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said today that Albania’s decision to double startup funding has increased the number of beneficiaries to 163, including young entrepreneurs from the country and the diaspora. In a video message, Koçiu described the initiative as a fulfilled commitment to supporting startups in Albania. The government …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha said that Albania has entered a decisive phase in the process of joining the European Union. Hoxha attended the informal meeting of Ministers for European Affairs in Dublin, where discussions focused on EU enlargement, reforms, and strengthening administrative capacities. The minister stressed …
Tirana International Airport ranked first among airports in the region in terms of passenger numbers during the first six months of 2026, recording more than 6 million travelers. The figures were published by Prime Minister Edi Rama through a chart shared on his Facebook page. According to the data he …