Blog
News

Veliaj wins 3rd mandate as Tirana’s mayor by huge difference

Erion Veliaj has won a third mandate as Mayor of the Albanian capital, Tirana in the local elections of 14 May 2023. Veliaj has deeply defeated his opponent of the “Together We Win” coalition, Belind Kelliçi, with a difference of 60 thousand votes. From the official data of the Central …

Read More
News

Teen stabbed in Kamza school knife fight

A 15-year-old has been stabbed this Tuesday noon in the outer premises of a school in Kamza area of Tirana. According to the police, the incident took place outside the “Ahmet Zogu” school. During the physical clash, citizen K. Gj., 18 years old, stabbed a 15-year-old with a cutting tool. …

Read More
News

Analysis: With low turnout, local elections give insights into grim demographic forecasts

Migration and demographics playing increasing role in Albanian elections TIRANA, May 16, 2023 – Albania’s latest administrative elections marked the lowest turnout ever for a competitive voting process in post-communism, with only about one in three eligible voters casting votes.  The number of people who had the right to vote …

Read More
News

Elections/ Celibashi: According to the law, the result will be announced today at 22:00

If everything will goes well and the law will be respected, today at 22:00 we will have the result for the local elections for mayors. The statement comes from the head of the CEC, Ilirjan Celibashi, at the first press conference today. ” According to the law, by 10:00 p.m. …

Read More
News

For Tourism-Dependent Balkan States, Foreign Workers Fill Growing Gap

Tourism is a mainstay of the Croatian, Montenegrin and Albanian economies. But growing labour shortages mean hotels, restaurants and bars are increasingly looking abroad for staff. Original post Here

Read More
News

Share Your Experience: School Violence in South Eastern Europe

We would like to hear from parents, legal guardians, and teachers willing to share their experiences to help our upcoming investigation into school violence in Southeast Europe. Original post Here

Read More
News

Ruling Socialists Defeat Divided Opposition in Albanian Local Polls

Preliminary data from Albania’s Central Election Commission shows that the ruling Socialist Party is leading in the majority of municipalities in the country, including the capital Tirana. Original post Here

Read More
News

Opposition candidate wins Puka Municipality

Candidate of “Together We Win” coalition, Rrok Dodaj has won this Monday the May 14 local elections for Puka Municipality with 58.13%, against the Socialist Party’s (SP) candidate, Gjon Gjonaj with 41.87% Based on the published data, hope of the “Together We Win” coalition candidates to hold another term in …

Read More
News

Socialist Party leads in 54 municipalities from north to south, “Together We Win” is expected to win in 7 cities

A few hours have passed since the official start of the counting of votes to announce the new mayors from the May 14 elections. So far, the counting for the mayor has been completed in the Municipality of Kamza, in Elbasan and in Vorë, where the counting was done electronically, …

Read More
News

Ballot counting interrupted in Tirana’s number five unit

Counting of ballots has been stopped this Monday for several hours at the “Vasil Shanto” school in Tirana and is expected to start at 11:00. Halting of the process has come despite the order by Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Ilirjan Celibashi vote counters must continue working without …

Read More
News
National Film Archive resumes archival filming after 27 years

TIRANA, May 28 – The Central State Film Archive announced the resumption of archival filming after a 27-year interruption. Archive Director Eljan Tanini described the move as an important step. He said the initiative gives the institution a new opportunity to document Albanian life and preserve the country’s collective memory. …

News
Albania rises to 48th place in global tax transparency index

TIRANA, May 28 – Albania improved its position in the Global Tax Expenditures Transparency Index, an international ranking that measures transparency and reporting quality in tax expenditures. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said Albania ranked 48th among 116 countries with 51.73 points out of 100. He said the country previously ranked …

News
Farmers receive assistance for 2026 National Support Scheme applications

TIRANA, May 28 – Farmers across Albania receive assistance for applications under the 2026 National Support Scheme. Staff work at offices of the Agricultural and Rural Extension Agency (AREB) and Agropoints and guide farmers through applications on the e-Albania portal. Meanwhile, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Andis Salla called on …

News
Defence Minister Nufi announces three government

TIRANA, May 28 – Defence Minister Ermal Nufi said today that the Council of Ministers approved three decisions related to the defence sector. Meanwhile, Nufi said the first decision concerns the extension of Albania’s mission in Latvia. He said Albania currently deploys a platoon in Latvia. He added that the …

News
State Minister Demo presents “Renewal 2.0” programme with 11 objectives for territorial intervention and regional development

TIRANA, May 28 – Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo presented today the “Renewal 2.0” programme, a package of 11 strategic objectives focused on territorial intervention and sustainable regional development. Meanwhile, Demo said the programme aims to establish a new model of local development by combining cultural identity, …

News
Defence Minister Ermal Nufi: 44 civil protection projects approved, 650 million ALL funding allocated

TIRANA, May 28 – Defence Minister Ermal Nufi said the Council of Ministers approved several decisions covering civil protection, international missions, and military structure. The minister confirmed approval of 44 civil protection projects. He said 26 projects focus on infrastructure works. He added that 18 projects cover equipment and emergency …

News
Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha condemns Russia’s warning to diplomats in Kyiv

TIRANA, May 28 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha reacted today to Russia’s warning for diplomats and foreign citizens to leave Kyiv. Meanwhile, Hoxha described the Russian move as completely unacceptable. He wrote on social media that threats against embassies do not represent diplomacy. He said such actions amount to intimidation. …

News
Deputy PM Koçiu: European Union recognises Albania’s progress report

TIRANA, May 28 – Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said the European Union recognises Albania’s progress in the integration process. She also called for careful reading of the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report, known as IBAR. Meanwhile, Koçiu spoke after the Council of Ministers meeting. She addressed questions on whether the …

News
Prime Minister Edi Rama Responds Again to Reporters Without Borders

Prime Minister Edi Rama continued his exchange with Reporters Without Borders this Thursday. Rama’s latest response came after Reporters Without Borders, through a social media post on Thursday, urged him to focus on media freedom issues rather than on their reports. In his response, Rama emphasized that he had presented …

News
Minister Nufi Speaks About Albanian Soldiers in Gaza: We Are Still in the Discussion Phase With Partners

After the government meeting, Defense Minister Ermal Nufi stated during a media communication that the mission of Albanian soldiers in Gaza is still under discussion with international partners and involved parties. According to him, given the delicate situation in Gaza, security measures and the specific duties Albanian soldiers would carry …

News

National Film Archive resumes archival filming after 27 years

TIRANA, May 28 – The Central State Film Archive announced the resumption of archival filming after a 27-year interruption. Archive Director Eljan Tanini described the move as an important step. He said the initiative gives the institution a new opportunity to document Albanian life and preserve the country’s collective memory. …

News

Albania rises to 48th place in global tax transparency index

TIRANA, May 28 – Albania improved its position in the Global Tax Expenditures Transparency Index, an international ranking that measures transparency and reporting quality in tax expenditures. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said Albania ranked 48th among 116 countries with 51.73 points out of 100. He said the country previously ranked …

News

Farmers receive assistance for 2026 National Support Scheme applications

TIRANA, May 28 – Farmers across Albania receive assistance for applications under the 2026 National Support Scheme. Staff work at offices of the Agricultural and Rural Extension Agency (AREB) and Agropoints and guide farmers through applications on the e-Albania portal. Meanwhile, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Andis Salla called on …

News

Defence Minister Nufi announces three government

TIRANA, May 28 – Defence Minister Ermal Nufi said today that the Council of Ministers approved three decisions related to the defence sector. Meanwhile, Nufi said the first decision concerns the extension of Albania’s mission in Latvia. He said Albania currently deploys a platoon in Latvia. He added that the …

News

State Minister Demo presents “Renewal 2.0” programme with 11 objectives for territorial intervention and regional development

TIRANA, May 28 – Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo presented today the “Renewal 2.0” programme, a package of 11 strategic objectives focused on territorial intervention and sustainable regional development. Meanwhile, Demo said the programme aims to establish a new model of local development by combining cultural identity, …

News

Defence Minister Ermal Nufi: 44 civil protection projects approved, 650 million ALL funding allocated

TIRANA, May 28 – Defence Minister Ermal Nufi said the Council of Ministers approved several decisions covering civil protection, international missions, and military structure. The minister confirmed approval of 44 civil protection projects. He said 26 projects focus on infrastructure works. He added that 18 projects cover equipment and emergency …

News

Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha condemns Russia’s warning to diplomats in Kyiv

TIRANA, May 28 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha reacted today to Russia’s warning for diplomats and foreign citizens to leave Kyiv. Meanwhile, Hoxha described the Russian move as completely unacceptable. He wrote on social media that threats against embassies do not represent diplomacy. He said such actions amount to intimidation. …

News

Deputy PM Koçiu: European Union recognises Albania’s progress report

TIRANA, May 28 – Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said the European Union recognises Albania’s progress in the integration process. She also called for careful reading of the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report, known as IBAR. Meanwhile, Koçiu spoke after the Council of Ministers meeting. She addressed questions on whether the …

News

Prime Minister Edi Rama Responds Again to Reporters Without Borders

Prime Minister Edi Rama continued his exchange with Reporters Without Borders this Thursday. Rama’s latest response came after Reporters Without Borders, through a social media post on Thursday, urged him to focus on media freedom issues rather than on their reports. In his response, Rama emphasized that he had presented …

News

Minister Nufi Speaks About Albanian Soldiers in Gaza: We Are Still in the Discussion Phase With Partners

After the government meeting, Defense Minister Ermal Nufi stated during a media communication that the mission of Albanian soldiers in Gaza is still under discussion with international partners and involved parties. According to him, given the delicate situation in Gaza, security measures and the specific duties Albanian soldiers would carry …