“Tirana Fountain Tower” Competition, Rama Responds to Critics: We Do Not Forcibly Remove People from Their Homes for Private Projects
Prime Minister Edi Rama attended on Thursday the presentation of the five projects submitted as part of the international “Tirana Fountain Tower” competition. During his remarks, Rama responded to criticism regarding urban development and construction projects in the capital, stressing that no one is forcibly removed from their home to …
Berlin Process Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Hoxha: Enlargement Is the Answer for a More Resilient Europe
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part in the Berlin Process Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held in Pržno, Montenegro. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said that during the meeting, Hoxha reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to a safer, more competitive and better-connected Western Balkans, stressing that the security …
Double-Headed Eagle Removed from Mount Korab, Albanian Mountaineering and Mountain Tourism Federation Reacts
The Albanian Mountaineering and Mountain Tourism Federation has issued an official statement regarding an incident reported a few days ago, in which a group from North Macedonia removed a double-headed eagle symbol that had been placed by a team of Albanian mountaineers on Mount Korab. The Federation stressed that the …
Cardiac Surgery Gets New Facility, Rama: Investments in QSUT to Continue in 2027
Prime Minister Edi Rama inspected the new Cardiac Surgery facility at the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Center (QSUT), which aims to provide modern services and raise standards of patient care. During the visit, Rama said investments in QSUT would continue in 2027, with the aim of fully addressing the needs …
Crime Situation in the Country, Minister Demo Calls on Police Chiefs to Implement School Safety Package
Interior Minister Ervin Demo held a meeting with senior State Police officials at both central and regional levels, focusing on improving security, strengthening prevention measures, and responding to all forms of illegal activity with the full force of the law and professionalism. Minister Demo requested detailed and up-to-date information from …
Consumers and Businesses Show Greater Confidence in the Economy
Businesses and consumers showed greater confidence in economic developments in September, contributing to a 0.3 percentage point increase in the Economic Sentiment Indicator, according to the Bank of Albania. According to the Business and Consumer Confidence Survey, published today by the central bank, the Economic Sentiment Indicator stands 7.8 percentage …
Home Loans: Interest Rates Reach 3.8% in Lek and 5% in Euro
Buying a home with a mortgage is the only option for many Albanian families seeking to address their housing needs. This has made housing loans one of the most widely offered banking products, but how do interest rates on these loans vary? According to the latest report by the Bank …
EU Integration: France Reaffirms Support for Enlargement
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with France’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, René Troccaz, during his stay in Pržno, Montenegro. The talks focused on Albania’s accession process to the European Union, developments in the Western Balkans, as well as the strategic importance of strengthening regional …
“Tirana Fountain Plaza”: Winning Project Unveiled for Transformation of “Tajvani” Complex
Bjarke Ingels Group has been announced as the winner of the international competition for “Tirana Fountain Plaza,” one of five architectural visions presented for Tirana 2030. The new development, named “Tirana Fountain Plaza,” is expected to replace the existing building of the “Tajvani” complex. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister …
Shkodër’s Rozafa Castle undergoes restoration and visitor upgrades
Rozafa Castle in Shkodër is undergoing restoration and redevelopment as part of a project to strengthen the tourism and cultural potential of the Shkodër Archaeological Park. Work has started at the lower section of the castle, where workers are building a parking area to address a long-standing issue for visitors. …
Electricity distribution losses in Albania fell to 15.6% in the first eight months of 2026, according to data from the Electricity Distribution System Operator. The figure marks a continued improvement from 18.93% in 2023, 17.93% in 2024 and 16.96% in 2025. Regional data also show lower losses. Fier recorded the …
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said Albania is among the leading candidates in the European Union enlargement process. In an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, she placed Albania and Montenegro at the front of the process, followed by Moldova and Ukraine. Kos said enlargement had achieved more …
Albania U19 secured a second consecutive victory over Lithuania U19, coming from behind to win 2-1 in a friendly match at the Vora Stadium. Lithuania took the lead in the first half, scoring from one of their few chances of the game. However, Albania responded strongly after the break and …
The International Dance Festival Tirana (IDFT) will launch its fifth edition on October 3, bringing a rich program of contemporary dance, international artists and artistic companies to the Albanian capital through October 21. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said the festival will feature 17 performances in nine …
The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Michel Tarran, met today with representatives of the Union of Judges, the National Association of Judges and the Association of Prosecutors of Albania to discuss recent developments in the country’s justice system. According to the OSCE Presence, the discussion focused on …
Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media today from “Gran Tour Albania,” an event that brought Italian collectors of vintage cars to the historic city of Gjirokastër. “Motoring enthusiasts and tourists added a new color to Gjirokastër in autumn,” Rama wrote alongside photos from the event. Rare vintage …
The National Library in Tirana hosted the presentation of “Usta Josifi and the Saze of Përmet,” a new monographic study by author Niko Mihali dedicated to one of Albania’s richest musical traditions. The book explores the urban folk music tradition of Përmet and focuses on the life and contribution of …
Defense Minister Ermal Nufi met today with the new U.S. Ambassador to Albania, Eric Wendt, and reaffirmed the strong partnership between Albania and the United States in the fields of defense and security. Nufi described the United States as Albania’s indispensable partner in security and defense, while stressing that Albania …
Albanian film “The Delegation” (Le Dernier Prisonnier), directed by Bujar Alimani, was screened in the French city of Reims on Thursday evening. The event took place through cooperation between the European Commission Representation in France and the association “7ème Œil.” Albanian Ambassador to France Dritan Tola, Montenegro’s Ambassador to France …
Women get a raw deal at elections in Bosnia, a spy chief’s arrest raises security questions in Albania and protesters challenge war crimes verdicts in Kosovo – plus much more in our selection of this week’s Balkan Insight Premium stories. Original post Here