Society for Albanian Studies calls for nominations for the annual Stavro Skendi Book Prize
TIRANA, April 12, 2023 – Nominations are being sought for the Stavro Skendi Book Prize for Achievement in Albanian Studies, the organization that governs the award said in a statement. Awarded by the Society for Albanian Studies – an affiliate organization of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian …
Isolation is not a joke: Leaving the ICSID would be a bitter mistake
TIRANA TIMES EDITORIAL Albania’s troubles with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) seem to be expanding well beyond the infamous case of settling over the closure of Agon Channel and the hefty fine of 120 million euros that the country has to pay up to Italian investor …
Albania to Honour Heroes Who Saved Jews from Holocaust
New museum will celebrate the Albanians who risked their lives to shield Jews from Nazi persecution – and whose story has remained largely untold. Original post Here
Faced with corruption and unpredictable tax system, top business associations demand comprehensive reforms
TIRANA, April 12, 2023 – Doing business in Albania is hard as the economic “environment is inefficient and requires significant improvement,” five chambers of commerce in Albania, including those representing American, German, French and Italian investors said in a joint statement issued on Tuesday. To attract more foreign investment, they …
Albania’s massive ICSID court loss has Tirana pondering exiting jurisdiction
TIRANA, April 11, 2023 – With Albania’s government losing its final appeal to reverse a €120-million penalty in the Francesco Becchetti affair case earlier this month, Tirana is mulling exiting the jurisdiction of the international arbitration court that issued the ruling, according to Prime Minister Edi Rama. The tribunal organized …
Politicians and Public Targeted in Online Intimidation Cases
BIRN’s latest three-month monitoring review of digital violations, covering the period from January to March, highlights how online targeting of politicians and government critics, as well as other forms of digital intimidation, have become significant issues of concern in the Balkans and Central and Eastern Europe. Original post Here
Fresh Suspicions over Albania Airport after Turkish Partner Pulls Out
Environmentalists and the European Commission were already alarmed by Albanian plans to build an airport in a coastal region rich in biodiversity. Now one of the partners in the project has pulled out, taking its airport expertise with it. Original post Here
ODIHR starts monitoring mission for Albania’s May 14 administrative elections
TIRANA, March 8, 2023 – International observers of ODIHR, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, have started the mission of monitoring Albania’s local elections of May 14 with a press conference. The mission will be led by Ambassador Audry Glover, who has been in charge of international …
PM pitches large public sector wage increases, leading to concern over costs, political use
TIRANA, April 8 – Albania’s government is preparing to approve large wage increases in the public sector that could lead to the average salary going up 60 percent by 2024, Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced. According to the government, the new system of public sector wages will bring the …
Albanian PM Threatens to Quit International Arbitration Body
Premier Edi Rama reacted angrily to a decision by a World Bank-funded international arbitration body to grant around 110 million euros in compensation to an Italian businessman who claimed he was politically persecuted in Albania. Original post Here
Prime Minister Edi Rama said the historic neighborhoods of Pogradec are being revitalized. He called them a future growth hub for the lakeside city. Historic areas across the country are returning to life. Projects preserve historical and architectural values. They also add new elements. These changes turn the areas into …
Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee visited Turkey to strengthen interparliamentary cooperation. Talks focused on joint programs for young people. The Albanian delegation included Igli Hasani, Ervin Hoxha, Sara Mila, and Edmond Haxhinasto. They met with Fatma Aksal, head of the Turkey–Albania Parliamentary Friendship Group. Mila proposed creating a cooperation …
Ferit Hoxha met with the Special Envoy of the Czech Republic for the Western Balkans, Edita Hrda. The meeting focused on EU enlargement in the region. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to the enlargement process of the European Union in the Western Balkans. They described it as a strategic …
The World Bank projects that the economy of Albania will grow by 3.4% this year, mainly driven by tourism. However, the institution warns that the conflict in the Middle East remains a major risk that could slow economic growth. It calls for stronger structural reforms to sustain the current momentum. …
Public debt in Albania has followed a clear downward trend in the first quarter of 2026, falling to 48.79% of GDP, the lowest level recorded in the past decade. Preliminary data from the Ministry of Finance show that the decline is not only linked to economic growth but also to …
Klodjan Braho received the Minister of Justice of Austria, Anna Sporrer, at the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) in Tirana. The meeting took place as part of ongoing cooperation between the two countries. It followed a joint operation earlier this month, during which Albanian and Austrian authorities shut down several call …
Ismet Krasniqi says the Mediterranean Games in Prishtina will create strong economic and development opportunities for Kosovo. He makes these remarks during an investors’ conference in Prishtina. He stresses that major sports events generate tourism, create jobs, support local businesses, and strengthen international partnerships. He states that Prishtina can become …
Albanian Telegraphic Agency presents archival photos taken 40 years ago, on April 29, 1986. Photographer Meksi Xhufka captures the images during the artistic program “Bashkë me ju.” The production stages the show at the “Partizani” Sports Palace (today “Asllan Rusi”), instead of the Albanian Television studios. The photos show well-known …
TIRANA, April 29 – The Central Procurement Operator takes part in an international workshop in Poland organised by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The event focuses on integrating Environmental, Social and Governance criteria into public procurement, a key priority in European sector reform. In this context, the institution …
TIRANA, April 29 – Justice Minister Toni Gogu meets Austria’s Justice Minister Anna Sporrer in Tirana. The talks focus on Albania’s European Union integration process and cooperation in the justice sector. Gogu says Albania enters a decisive phase in negotiations with the European Union. He adds that the country advances …