Norfolk NATO Festival highlights Albania’s culture and tradition
TIRANA, April 22 – The Norfolk NATO Festival opened in Norfolk, Virginia, bringing together NATO member countries in a celebration of international cooperation. The annual event featured flag-raising ceremonies and cultural exhibitions in the city centre. Organisers held the traditional NATO flag-raising ceremony in April to mark the official opening …
Rama: Government prepares concrete investment plan for milk control labs
Prime Minister Edi Rama said the government has a concrete investment plan to accredit laboratories that control milk and dairy by-products. Rama warned that Albania’s milk sector would struggle to meet EU standards if the country were already a member. He said the entire production chain must be guaranteed. He …
US Ambassador to NATO Whitaker meets Kosovo leaders on security
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker met Kosovo leaders to discuss the security situation. He also held talks with the KFOR mission commander. Prime Minister Albin Kurti discussed U.S. support and cooperation with the Kosovo Security Force. He highlighted training programs and efforts to increase defense capacities. Kurti said security …
Rama highlights “Plis” guesthouse in Valbona Valley
Prime Minister Edi Rama highlighted the “Plis” guesthouse in the Valbona Valley as an example of sustainable mountain tourism. Rama said the guesthouse preserves the spirit of traditional Alpine homes while meeting modern standards. He described it as an ideal place to enjoy fresh air, cool weather, and the natural …
Albania signs EU4FoodSafety project to boost food safety standards
Andis Salla and German Ambassador Karl Bergner signed the EU4FoodSafety agreement in Tirana. The European Union and the German government co-finance the project. It strengthens food safety standards in Albania and improves consumer protection. Salla calls the project a key step toward EU integration. He says it marks progress in …
Kosovo boxers compete in World Boxing Cup Brazil 2026
Shpëtim Bajoku and Donjeta Sadiku represent Kosovo at the World Boxing Cup Brazil 2026 in Foz do Iguaçu. The tournament runs from April 20 to April 27, 2026, and brings together elite boxers from around the world. It features 49 countries and 342 athletes, making it the largest edition in …
Hoxha invites professionals to join Albania’s EU diplomatic team in Brussels
Ferit Hoxha invites Albanian professionals to join the diplomatic team in Brussels under the “Albania 2030” initiative. He says Albania advances its EU accession process and now needs highly skilled and dedicated professionals. He stresses that diplomats must represent the country with professionalism, integrity, and vision. Hoxha urges candidates with …
Rama attends Delphi Economic Forum in Greece
Edi Rama attends the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece on a three-day working visit from April 21–23. He participates in the Delphi Economic Forum, where global leaders, business representatives, academics, and experts meet to discuss major international challenges and promote cooperation. Rama meets Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to strengthen …
Gogu meets OSCE chief Tarran to discuss justice reform
Toni Gogu meets OSCE Presence head Michel Tarran in Tirana to discuss justice reform and security sector priorities. Both sides reaffirm strong cooperation in advancing judicial reforms and strengthening Albania’s justice system. They focus on key areas such as the 2024–2030 Justice Strategy, victim protection, and institutional capacity building for …
EU Ambassador Gonzato: Albania enters decisive EU negotiation phase
Silvio Gonzato says Albania enters a decisive phase in EU accession negotiations, with food safety as one of the most complex reforms. Then, he speaks at a meeting with food business operators attended by Edi Rama. He explains that food safety protects citizens, strengthens consumer trust, and ensures fair competition. …
Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja has highlighted 3 young athletes who are challenging gender stereotypes in sport. Their dedication and daily sacrifices show that talent and success have no gender, he said. Gonxhja shared the stories of footballer Amarda Xhebrahimi, sport shooter Sindi Sula and wrestler Albina Drazhi …
The American Chamber of Commerce in Albania has urged the government to reconsider tax increases proposed in the 2027 fiscal package. It warned that the changes could raise business costs, discourage investment and weaken the country’s competitiveness. The chamber said higher dividend tax, standard value-added tax and some reduced rates, …
The 2027 draft budget allocates ALL 75.4 billion to infrastructure and energy, equivalent to 2.5% of gross domestic product. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj presented the figures at the Conference of Chairpersons. The funding will support transport, railway and port projects, as well as drinking water and sewage systems. Planned water …
The Transparency Board has announced new maximum prices for diesel and petrol. The limits took effect at 15:00 on October 29. Retailers may charge no more than ALL 212 per litre for diesel. The wholesale cap stands at ALL 200 per litre. For petrol, the retail ceiling is ALL 181 …
Kosova President Justina Shiroka Pula met United States chargé d’affaires Anu Prattipati in Prishtina. Prattipati congratulated the president on taking office. Shiroka Pula thanked her for the message. She reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening relations and the strategic partnership between Kosova and the United States. The president also stressed the …
The Albanian Parliament has approved amendments to the Law on the Bank of Albania with 84 votes in favor. The changes provide special legal protections for the governor, restricting the possibility of taking measures against the governor without parliamentary authorization. Under the amendments adopted during Thursday’s plenary session, the governor …
The Albanian Parliament’s plenary session resumed amid tensions after opposition MPs lit flares inside the chamber, blocked the parliamentary rostrum and blew whistles. Following the disruption, Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi decided to expel four opposition MPs from the plenary session: Xhelal Mziu, Bledi Himçi, Ivi Kaso and Bledion Nallbati. …
Students have begun marching from Parliament towards the Ministry of Education, continuing their protests for the 17th consecutive day as they demand the unconditional resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. A day earlier, students had announced a demonstration outside Parliament to coincide with the start of the plenary session. However, …
The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) has received 12 new Mercedes-Benz Unimog 5T military trucks, adding to its military fleet alongside eight Rheinmetall KX 8×8 trucks that arrived several days earlier. In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced that the total number of trucks in these two categories has …
The General Director of the State Police, Skender Hita, visited the Security Academy on Thursday, where around 1,000 candidates are continuing the selection process to join the State Police in General Patrol positions, undergoing medical, physical and psychological assessments. During his meeting with the candidates, Hita welcomed the high level …