Prime Minister Rama to attend eighth intergovernmental conference with EU in Brussels
TIRANA, May 25 – Albania and the European Union will hold tomorrow the eighth Intergovernmental Conference on accession negotiations in Brussels. The meeting focuses on advancing reforms under Cluster 1 “Fundamentals” of the negotiation process. The conference will confirm Albania’s fulfilment of interim benchmarks. It will also define final benchmarks …
Opposition Democratic Party MP calls for special national status for Albanian Film Archive
TIRANA, May 25 – Democratic Party of the opposition MP Ina Zhupa, chair of the Committee on Culture, Tourism and Diaspora, visited the National Film Archive of Albania. Zhupa called for stronger institutional attention and concrete government support for the archive. She described it as a key institution for preserving …
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: May 25, 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
Protect Nature, EU interactive contest promotes Albania’s biodiversity
TIRANA May 25 – The Delegation of the European Union in Albania has launched the “Protect Nature” contest. The initiative promotes biodiversity and environmental protection through an interactive experience in several Albanian cities. The campaign covers Tirana, Shkodër, Durrës, and Vlora. It uses green stickers placed in public areas. Each …
Vatican honors Albanian ambassador Majlinda Frangaj for contribution to bilateral relations
TIRANA, May 25 – The Vatican has awarded Albanian ambassador to the Holy See Majlinda Frangaj the title “Dame Grand Cross of the Piano Order”, one of the highest civil decorations of the Holy See. The Piano Order was founded by Pope Pius IX. It is considered one of the …
Rama: Bënja Baths to become a modern tourism destination in nature
Renovation works at Bënja Baths are continuing. The site is located about 14 kilometers from the city of Përmet. It lies in the Petran administrative unit, near the meeting point of the Vjosa River and the Lengarica stream. Prime Minister Edi Rama said the transformation will be completed soon. He …
Tirana hosts elite padel tournament, free entry at Skanderbeg Square from 26–30 May
TIRANA, May 25 – Tirana will become an international centre for elite padel sport. The city will host a major tournament from 26 to 30 May at Skanderbeg Square, with free entry for the public. Top international players will compete in the event. They will play for key ranking points …
Gjirokastër Castle continues to attract visitors, Gonxhja says
Gjirokastër Castle remains one of Albania’s most visited cultural heritage sites, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said today. He noted that the monument is enjoying another successful tourist season, with growing interest in cultural tourism in southern Albania. Gonxhja shared images from the site showing the castle …
Over 5,000 farmers apply for national support scheme, minister says
TIRANA, May 25 – Farmers across the country can apply from today for the National Support Scheme 2026. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development launched the programme with 12 support measures. Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Andis Salla said farmers now have full access to apply and benefit from …
Ancient olive groves of Ndroq, Varosh Castle and warm hospitality near Tirana
Visitors travel to Ndroq and explore its ancient olive groves and rural trails. First, they follow walking paths through green hills and traditional village landscapes.Then, they pass through old orchards and stone terraces. As they move forward, they discover the olive groves of Ndroq. Locals cultivate these groves and maintain …
How the vision of a scholar and the support of Prime Minister Edi Rama made it possible to bring one of Europe’s most prestigious institutions to Albania By Nora Ahmeti TIRANA, Albania – At 6 p.m. on December 2, 2022, Albert Rakipi, a well-known figure in academic, diplomatic and foreign …
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed Prime Minister Edi Rama at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Monday. Their meeting focused on Albania’s progress in defence and its commitment to NATO obligations. Following the meeting, Rama described Rutte as a strong friend of Albania and an attentive observer of developments in …
Prime Minister Edi Rama visited Brussels on Monday, where he took part in the Euronews Enlargement Summit. The high-level forum focused on EU enlargement and the European future of countries seeking membership. Discussions covered the progress of candidate countries, ongoing reforms and their commitments to the European Union. Participants also …
Albania is working to strengthen regional cooperation in aeronautical search and rescue. The country hosted the second 2026 meeting of the Regional Aeronautical Search and Rescue Advisory Committee (RASARAC), organised by the National Search and Rescue Centre. Deputy Defence Minister Blerina Abrazhda took part in the meeting. She reaffirmed Albania’s …
Albania is promoting its tourism potential at WTM London 2026, one of the world’s leading travel industry events. The country has opened its national pavilion with a programme that highlights tourism, culture, traditions and innovation. The fair runs from November 3 to 5 in London. It brings together tourism officials, …
The Durres Port Authority took part in Waterborne Transport Week 2026, an international event held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community organised the forum under the motto “Connecting Transport, Connecting People”. The event brought together representatives of European institutions, transport authorities and regional partners. …
Four NATO warships have arrived at the Port of Vlora as part of a joint military activity with the Albanian Navy. The fleet consists of two German vessels, one Italian vessel, and one Spanish vessel. The ships will remain in port until November 6. During this period, port activities and …
During an interview with journalist Maria Tadeo at the Euronews Enlargement Summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Edi Rama commented on the Western Balkans’ path toward the European Union and Serbia’s regional role. He emphasized that although Serbia’s EU integration is important for regional stability, Belgrade must demonstrate concrete progress, meet …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said during his speech at the Euronews Enlargement Summit in Brussels that Albania aims to conclude accession negotiations with the European Union by the end of 2027. Rama expressed skepticism about the deadlines periodically set by the European Union regarding Albania, but emphasized that the country …
Prime Minister Edi Rama commented on the student protests in Tirana, now in their 22nd day, during an interview in Brussels on Tuesday. The head of government emphasized that protesters are refusing dialogue and insisting on calls for his resignation, without presenting a clear set of demands. “It’s not easy …