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National Security Council meeting concludes

The National Security Council, convened by President Bajram Begaj, concluded its meeting held on Monday at the Palace of Brigades. The meeting began at 08:30 and was also attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, along with the heads of the country’s main security institutions and other senior state officials. The …

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Hoxha meets Bundestag EU Affairs Committee Chair: Germany supports Albania’s European path

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha received Anton Hofreiter, Chair of the German Bundestag’s Committee on European Union Affairs, in Tirana on Monday morning. The Minister said in a post on X that the discussion provided a valuable opportunity to assess Albania’s progress through its ambitious reform agenda …

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Justice institutions reject Rama’s roundtable, Prime Minister’s Office responds

Following the refusal of justice institutions to take part in a roundtable convened by Prime Minister Edi Rama to discuss magistrates’ salaries, the Prime Minister’s Office has issued an official response, expressing its willingness to continue dialogue. The Supreme Court, the Special Court against Corruption and Organised Crime (GJKKO), and …

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PM Rama appeals to Europe: Don’t leave the Balkans behind

Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke about Albania’s European integration process at the Interparliamentary Conference, “Strategic Agenda for EU Enlargement and Albania’s Accession,” where he also addressed the country’s social and political climate. Referring to the “Flamingo Revolution” protests, Rama said they had become an example of rising expectations among Albanian …

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Details emerge from National Security Council discussions on Hyseni case; SPAK chief also attends

President Bajram Begaj convened a meeting of the National Security Council on Monday, focusing on recent developments and their impact on the country’s security institutions. In addition to the members designated by law, representatives of the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) were …

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EU Ambassador: Democracy is measured not only by elections, but also by Parliament’s role

EU Ambassador Sofia Moreira de Sousa addressed an Interparliamentary Conference on Monday, attended by representatives of Albanian institutions, the European Parliament and national parliaments from across Europe. She said Albania’s path towards the European Union has transformed the country, but stressed that this transformation must continue. She also noted that …

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: September 28, 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

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Albanian MPs join regional meeting on parliamentary integrity

A delegation of the Albanian Parliament took part in the Regional Parliamentary Anti-Corruption Clinic in Beciq, Montenegro, on September 24–26. MPs Milva Ekonomi, Antoneta Dhima and Kliti Hoti represented the Parliament. The National Democratic Institute organised the event with the Parliament of Montenegro. The meeting brought together MPs and parliamentary …

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Speaker Peleshi: Public support in EU states key to Albania’s accession

Albanian Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi said direct engagement with citizens and communities in EU member states is essential for the success of Albania’s EU integration process. He made the remarks at a conference with representatives of Albanian institutions and the European Parliament. Peleshi said enlargement cannot rely only on political …

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Health Minister Spahiu: Health structures to be reorganised around citizens’ needs

Health and Social Protection Minister Klodiana Spahiu visited health facilities in Mallakastër to review investments, services and staff work. The visit took place as part of a process to restructure and reorganise health facilities. The process aims to align their capacities with community needs. Spahiu said the reorganisation aims to …

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Rama: National Council for Children with Disabilities, financial bonus for support teachers

Prime Minister Edi Rama met with a group of parents today to discuss the creation of a National Council for Children with Disabilities and ways to strengthen the support-teacher system. Minister of Health and Social Welfare Klodiana Spahiu, Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro and State Social Service Director Reme Lala …

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Hoxha meets Austrian counterpart: Albania’s EU progress praised

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with Austria’s Federal Minister for Europe Claudia Bauer in Vienna during the high-level ministerial meeting “Slavkov 3 – Western Balkans”. Hoxha and Bauer discussed Albania’s EU accession process, the country’s ongoing reform agenda and key priorities in the negotiations. Hoxha expressed …

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EU path, Hoxha in Vienna: Albania making merit-based progress

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part in a high-level meeting of European affairs ministers from the Slavkov format countries and the Western Balkans in Vienna on September 29, 2026. The Slavkov format brings together Austria, Czechia and Slovakia, along with the Western Balkan countries. Austrian Federal …

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Ambassador Wendt begins mission in Tirana as US flag raised at official residence

New U.S. Ambassador to Albania Eric Wendt has officially taken up his post, as the U.S. Marine Corps raised the American flag at the ambassador’s official residence. The U.S. Embassy in Tirana announced that the U.S. Marine Corps raised the American flag at the official residence to mark the beginning …

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Teodor Laço remembered on what would have been his 90th birthday

September 29 marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of renowned Albanian writer and screenwriter, and former Culture Minister, Teodor Laço. Laço was born on September 29, 1936, in the village of Dardhë, Korçë. He studied Agronomy at the University of Tirana. However, his early passion for writing shaped his …

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EU Ambassador meets Demo: Rule of law at center of Albania’s EU path

Minister of Interior Ervin Demo met today with EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa. The ambassador congratulated Demo on his appointment and stressed the importance of strengthening the rule of law as Albania moves toward EU membership. During the meeting, the two officials discussed priorities and challenges related …

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Rama: Zvernec project will be decided based on environmental impact

Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke today about protests against the planned investment in Zvernec. He said scientific assessments and the project’s environmental impact will determine whether construction moves forward. Speaking at the Euronews Summit 2026, Rama said the investment has no political link to Donald Trump. Instead, he said investors …

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Albania dominate San Marino, lead 2-0 at half-time

Albania dominated San Marino in their second Group C1 match of the UEFA Nations League. The Red and Blacks needed less than 27 minutes to take control at the San Marino Stadium. Anis Mehmeti opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Just five minutes later, Myrto Uzuni doubled Albania’s lead. …

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Protest in Tirana, Rama: I come from the protesters’ side myself, I risked my life for free speech

Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking at the Euronews 2026 Tourism Summit in Brussels, addressed the ongoing protests in Tirana and also commented on singer Dua Lipa’s support for the demonstrations. Rama said that he is proud of Dua Lipa, just as she is proud of the protests taking place in …

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Berisha in Strasbourg: Appeals court should review former KLA leaders’ sentences objectively

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha delivered a speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where he addressed developments in Kosovo and the convictions of former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders in The Hague. Berisha first focused on the repeated elections in Kosovo, saying they had been conducted …

News

Rama: National Council for Children with Disabilities, financial bonus for support teachers

Prime Minister Edi Rama met with a group of parents today to discuss the creation of a National Council for Children with Disabilities and ways to strengthen the support-teacher system. Minister of Health and Social Welfare Klodiana Spahiu, Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro and State Social Service Director Reme Lala …

News

Hoxha meets Austrian counterpart: Albania’s EU progress praised

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with Austria’s Federal Minister for Europe Claudia Bauer in Vienna during the high-level ministerial meeting “Slavkov 3 – Western Balkans”. Hoxha and Bauer discussed Albania’s EU accession process, the country’s ongoing reform agenda and key priorities in the negotiations. Hoxha expressed …

News

EU path, Hoxha in Vienna: Albania making merit-based progress

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part in a high-level meeting of European affairs ministers from the Slavkov format countries and the Western Balkans in Vienna on September 29, 2026. The Slavkov format brings together Austria, Czechia and Slovakia, along with the Western Balkan countries. Austrian Federal …

News

Ambassador Wendt begins mission in Tirana as US flag raised at official residence

New U.S. Ambassador to Albania Eric Wendt has officially taken up his post, as the U.S. Marine Corps raised the American flag at the ambassador’s official residence. The U.S. Embassy in Tirana announced that the U.S. Marine Corps raised the American flag at the official residence to mark the beginning …

News

Teodor Laço remembered on what would have been his 90th birthday

September 29 marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of renowned Albanian writer and screenwriter, and former Culture Minister, Teodor Laço. Laço was born on September 29, 1936, in the village of Dardhë, Korçë. He studied Agronomy at the University of Tirana. However, his early passion for writing shaped his …

News

EU Ambassador meets Demo: Rule of law at center of Albania’s EU path

Minister of Interior Ervin Demo met today with EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa. The ambassador congratulated Demo on his appointment and stressed the importance of strengthening the rule of law as Albania moves toward EU membership. During the meeting, the two officials discussed priorities and challenges related …

News

Rama: Zvernec project will be decided based on environmental impact

Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke today about protests against the planned investment in Zvernec. He said scientific assessments and the project’s environmental impact will determine whether construction moves forward. Speaking at the Euronews Summit 2026, Rama said the investment has no political link to Donald Trump. Instead, he said investors …

News

Albania dominate San Marino, lead 2-0 at half-time

Albania dominated San Marino in their second Group C1 match of the UEFA Nations League. The Red and Blacks needed less than 27 minutes to take control at the San Marino Stadium. Anis Mehmeti opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Just five minutes later, Myrto Uzuni doubled Albania’s lead. …

News

Protest in Tirana, Rama: I come from the protesters’ side myself, I risked my life for free speech

Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking at the Euronews 2026 Tourism Summit in Brussels, addressed the ongoing protests in Tirana and also commented on singer Dua Lipa’s support for the demonstrations. Rama said that he is proud of Dua Lipa, just as she is proud of the protests taking place in …

News

Berisha in Strasbourg: Appeals court should review former KLA leaders’ sentences objectively

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha delivered a speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where he addressed developments in Kosovo and the convictions of former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders in The Hague. Berisha first focused on the repeated elections in Kosovo, saying they had been conducted …