Blog
News

Fun Fair Albania ends with Children’s Day celebrations in Tirana

TIRANA, June 1 – Fun Fair Albania concluded on Monday after four days of activities that began on May 29. The event offered entertainment and recreational activities from morning until evening. Children’s Day brought additional crowds to the fair. As a result, dozens of activities, games, creative workshops and surprises …

Read More
News

Four Scenarios for Democracy in the Western Balkans: From Hope to Disenchantment

By the year 2040, will countries in the region choose to consolidate democracy, settle for ‘stabilitocracy’, or descend into full-blown authoritarianism? Original post Here

Read More
News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: June 1, 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

Read More
News

Swedish media Dagens highlights Albania as emerging European tourist destination

TIRANA, June 1 – Albania is emerging as a new European tourism destination. Swedish media outlet “Dagens” reports growing interest from European travelers and describes Albania as more affordable than Spain and Greece, while also comparing it with Italy. Meanwhile, “Dagens” highlights Albania’s beaches, natural landscapes and competitive prices. It …

Read More
News

Cherry Festival in Godolesh Highlights Local Tradition and Rural Tourism

The village of Godolesh welcomed hundreds of visitors this weekend for the annual Cherry Festival, an event dedicated to promoting the area’s agricultural traditions, cultural heritage and tourism potential. Residents and visitors from Elbasan, other Albanian cities and foreign tourists gathered in the village center to take part in the …

Read More
News

Blendi Gonxhja: FIP Platinum Albania Puts Albania on Global Padel Map

Blendi Gonxhja described the FIP Platinum Albania tournament as a major sporting and organizational success, saying it placed Albania on the map of top international padel events. He made the remarks after the tournament concluded in Tirana, where the finals took place at Skanderbeg Square. First, Gonxhja highlighted the strong …

Read More
News

Fun Fair Albania marks International Children’s Day in Tirana

TIRANA, June 1 – International Children’s Day on June 1 highlights the promotion of children’s rights and well-being. The day builds on international efforts strengthened by the 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Meanwhile, Tirana hosts the …

Read More
News

FM Hoxha in Prishtina: Kosova–Serbia dialogue central to normalisation, Albania reaffirms strong support

TIRANA, June 1 – Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha held meetings in Prishtina focused on Kosova’s political and institutional developments. He met the new leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosova, Ardian Gjini, and congratulated him on taking office at a key political moment. He …

Read More
News

Book Fair in Shkodër Honors Ridvan Dibra with Best Novel Award

For three days, the courtyard of the parish in Shkodër welcomed writers, researchers, publishers and readers. They gathered for the second edition of the “Libri të ban të lirë” book fair. The event once again highlighted Shkodra’s role as a center of Albanian culture and literature. First, the opening ceremony …

Read More
News

Ministry of Health and Social Protection launches National Agenda for Children Rights 2027–2030

TIRANA, June 1 – The Ministry of Health and Social Protection, together with national and international partners, launched the National Agenda for Children Rights 2027–2030 on World Children’s Day. The document sets a strategic framework to strengthen child protection systems and expand children’s rights in Albania. Minister Evis Sala presented …

Read More
News
Customs Administration collects 207 billion leks in revenue in first 10 months of 2026

TIRANA, Nov 14 /ATA/ – The Customs Administration collected 207 billion leks in revenue in the January-October period of 2026, an increase of 7.6 billion leks compared with the same period a year earlier, official data showed on Saturday. The figure marks the highest customs revenue recorded for the first …

News
Berisha urges opposition parties to field joint candidates in local elections

TIRANA, Nov 14 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha has called on opposition forces to unite behind joint candidates in the upcoming local elections. Speaking during an online exchange with citizens on Saturday, Berisha said guidelines setting out the procedures for selecting candidates for mayoral positions had …

News
Albania showcases tourism offer at Thessaloniki fair, seeks to deepen cooperation with Greece

TIRANA, Nov 14 /ATA/ – Albania is showcasing its tourism potential at the PHILOXENIA 2026 International Tourism Fair in Thessaloniki, Greece, from Nov. 13 to 15, seeking to expand its reach in international markets and strengthen tourism ties with neighbouring countries. As part of the event, Jola Hysaj, director-general of …

News
NATO Summit Off for 2027, Raising Questions About Albania’s Ambitions

The uncertainty over the summit exposes tensions between Prime Minister Rama’s international ambitions, Albania’s limited resources and a deepening political crisis at home. TIRANA, Albania – Albania will not host a NATO summit in 2027, Prime Minister Edi Rama has acknowledged, reversing months of confident government announcements about what had been …

News
Saudi Arabia Launches Innovative Business Platform for Foreign Investors

By Sidonja Manushi TIRANA, Albania – The Federation of Saudi Chambers has launched International Business Concierge (IBC), a new platform designed to facilitate the entry of foreign companies into the Saudi market, support business establishment and encourage international investment in the Kingdom. The initiative forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader …

News
PM Rama reshuffles Socialist Party regional leadership, names Ervin Demo and Albana Koçiu to lead Tirana

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced changes to the Socialist Party’s regional leadership at a meeting of its National Assembly taking place this Saturday in Lalzi Bay. Under the reshuffle, Ervin Demo and Albana Koçiu will jointly lead the party’s operations in Tirana. The changes come as the Socialist Party prepares …

News
PM Rama says European Commission made ‘historic’ recommendation for Albania to begin EU accession treaty preparations in 2027

Speaking at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, Prime Minister Edi Rama discussed the European Commission’s latest enlargement report, describing its recommendation for Albania as historic. Rama said the report contained a passage that, in his view, had received too little attention given its significance for Albania’s European integration. He was …

News
PM Rama on protests: ‘They threw stones and Molotov cocktails. Now it’s our turn to speak to citizens in every neighbourhood and village’

Prime Minister Edi Rama commented on the protests that have taken place across Albania in recent weeks, saying demonstrators had thrown stones and Molotov cocktails. He said the Socialist Party would step up its efforts to engage with citizens. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, Rama said the opposition …

News
PM Rama says 60% of media content is against the government, accuses TV channels of glorifying violence and proposes national debate

Prime Minister Edi Rama responded to criticism of media freedom in Albania, claiming that government critics are widely represented in the Albanian media and that Albania stands apart from other countries when it comes to freedom of expression. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, Rama said 60% of the …

News
Berisha: Never has an EU report been more critical—there is simply no perspective left under Rama

TIRANA, November 14 /ATA/ – Democratic Party Chairman Sali Berisha spoke today during an online discussion with supporters. He addressed Prime Minister Rama’s speech at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, as well as recent developments—specifically the European Commission’s report and the decision against holding the 2027 NATO summit in Tirana, …

News

Customs Administration collects 207 billion leks in revenue in first 10 months of 2026

TIRANA, Nov 14 /ATA/ – The Customs Administration collected 207 billion leks in revenue in the January-October period of 2026, an increase of 7.6 billion leks compared with the same period a year earlier, official data showed on Saturday. The figure marks the highest customs revenue recorded for the first …

News

Berisha urges opposition parties to field joint candidates in local elections

TIRANA, Nov 14 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha has called on opposition forces to unite behind joint candidates in the upcoming local elections. Speaking during an online exchange with citizens on Saturday, Berisha said guidelines setting out the procedures for selecting candidates for mayoral positions had …

News

Albania showcases tourism offer at Thessaloniki fair, seeks to deepen cooperation with Greece

TIRANA, Nov 14 /ATA/ – Albania is showcasing its tourism potential at the PHILOXENIA 2026 International Tourism Fair in Thessaloniki, Greece, from Nov. 13 to 15, seeking to expand its reach in international markets and strengthen tourism ties with neighbouring countries. As part of the event, Jola Hysaj, director-general of …

News

NATO Summit Off for 2027, Raising Questions About Albania’s Ambitions

The uncertainty over the summit exposes tensions between Prime Minister Rama’s international ambitions, Albania’s limited resources and a deepening political crisis at home. TIRANA, Albania – Albania will not host a NATO summit in 2027, Prime Minister Edi Rama has acknowledged, reversing months of confident government announcements about what had been …

News

Saudi Arabia Launches Innovative Business Platform for Foreign Investors

By Sidonja Manushi TIRANA, Albania – The Federation of Saudi Chambers has launched International Business Concierge (IBC), a new platform designed to facilitate the entry of foreign companies into the Saudi market, support business establishment and encourage international investment in the Kingdom. The initiative forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader …

News

PM Rama reshuffles Socialist Party regional leadership, names Ervin Demo and Albana Koçiu to lead Tirana

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced changes to the Socialist Party’s regional leadership at a meeting of its National Assembly taking place this Saturday in Lalzi Bay. Under the reshuffle, Ervin Demo and Albana Koçiu will jointly lead the party’s operations in Tirana. The changes come as the Socialist Party prepares …

News

PM Rama says European Commission made ‘historic’ recommendation for Albania to begin EU accession treaty preparations in 2027

Speaking at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, Prime Minister Edi Rama discussed the European Commission’s latest enlargement report, describing its recommendation for Albania as historic. Rama said the report contained a passage that, in his view, had received too little attention given its significance for Albania’s European integration. He was …

News

PM Rama on protests: ‘They threw stones and Molotov cocktails. Now it’s our turn to speak to citizens in every neighbourhood and village’

Prime Minister Edi Rama commented on the protests that have taken place across Albania in recent weeks, saying demonstrators had thrown stones and Molotov cocktails. He said the Socialist Party would step up its efforts to engage with citizens. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, Rama said the opposition …

News

PM Rama says 60% of media content is against the government, accuses TV channels of glorifying violence and proposes national debate

Prime Minister Edi Rama responded to criticism of media freedom in Albania, claiming that government critics are widely represented in the Albanian media and that Albania stands apart from other countries when it comes to freedom of expression. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, Rama said 60% of the …

News

Berisha: Never has an EU report been more critical—there is simply no perspective left under Rama

TIRANA, November 14 /ATA/ – Democratic Party Chairman Sali Berisha spoke today during an online discussion with supporters. He addressed Prime Minister Rama’s speech at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, as well as recent developments—specifically the European Commission’s report and the decision against holding the 2027 NATO summit in Tirana, …