Heavy Rains Cause Evacuations and Discontent in Albania
Dramatic situation reported in several towns, while some locals complain of being abandoned. Original post Here
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 …
Prime Minister Edi Rama arrived in Vlora on Monday afternoon. Mayor Brunilda Mersini welcomed him to the city. Rama first visited “Aulona” Park along the city’s main boulevard. Accompanied by Mersini, he inspected the former park area, which authorities plan to transform into a green and recreational public space. During …
The Academy of Sciences of Albania commemorated academician Aleks Buda on the anniversary of his birth. It honored him as one of the most distinguished figures in Albanian historiography and academic life. Aleks Buda was born on September 7, 1911, into a noble and patriotic family in Elbasan. His father, …
Deputy Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Klodiana Spahiu, who has also been nominated as Minister of Health and Social Welfare, met today with Ambassador Paolo Zampolli, US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy and the US government’s Special Representative for Global Partnerships. Spahiu and Zampolli discussed the strong relations between Albania …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met today with Paolo Zampolli, the United States Special Envoy for Global Partnerships. The meeting focused on ways to deepen the strategic partnership between Albania and the United States. The two sides paid particular attention to expanding economic cooperation, increasing trade and …
US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for Global Partnerships in the Balkans, Paolo Zampolli, said Monday that the Albanian people should decide whether to establish a sovereign Bektashi state in Tirana. During his visit to Albania, Zampolli met with representatives of the Bektashi community and Albanian political leaders. He also …
Socialist Party Parliamentary Group Chairman Taulant Balla met today with US President Donald J. Trump’s Special Envoy for Global Partnerships, Ambassador Paolo Zampolli, at the Albanian Parliament. During the meeting, Balla and Zampolli discussed the strong relationship between Albania and the United States. They also exchanged views on regional and …
Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today an excerpt from his interview with journalist Rudina Xhunga, who held an extensive conversation with the prime minister on her “Flasim Shqip” podcast. In a video posted on social media, Rama shared part of his story about his school years. He recalled an experience …
For the 16th consecutive Saturday, Albanian activists living in Lombardy gathered in central Milan carrying red-and-black flags and banners bearing the slogan “Albania Is Not for Sale.” The protest is part of the so-called “Flamingo Revolution,” a movement launched in Albania on May 23 against the construction of a luxury …
The Chair of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group, Taulant Balla, today received Ambassador Paolo Zampolli, Special Envoy of United States President Donald J. Trump for Global Partnerships, at the Presidency of the Albanian Parliament. Balla said that during the meeting, the two sides discussed the excellent relations between Albania and …
20.1% of Albania’s population is under the age of 18. This means that around one in five residents of the country belongs to this age group. Compared with other countries in the region, Albania is in a relatively favorable position. Montenegro leads with 21.8% of its population under the age …