Blog
News

PM Rama urges EU to bring accession candidate countries to negotiating table

TIRANA, Nov 10 /ATA/ – The European Union should adopt a new political approach to enlargement and bring candidate countries negotiating membership directly to the table, while preserving the principle of merit-based accession, Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Tuesday. Speaking at the Paris Peace Forum, Rama discussed Albania’s EU …

Read More
News

Rama: Emigration of young people is part of country’s development journey

TIRANA, November 10 /ATSH/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama stated today that the desire among young people to emigrate does not represent an upward trend, but is rather part of the country’s development journey. During a discussion entitled “Europe’s Shared Future: Enlargement and the Next Generation”—focused on European Union enlargement …

Read More
News

Rama in Paris: Europe must confront “devil” of social media

TIRANA, November 10 /ATSH/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that the European Union’s primary challenge in the coming years concerns not only the enlargement process and candidate countries, but also the Union’s own capacity to manage political shifts and the influence of social media. During a discussion at the …

Read More
News

Minister: Government to increase cultural heritage funding by 80% in 2027

TIRANA, Nov 10 /ATA/ – The government will increase funding for cultural heritage by 80%  under its 2027 state budget, Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said on Tuesday, announcing plans for restoration, conservation and the development of new museum spaces and archaeological sites. Speaking in a video message …

Read More
News

Malaj: Thirty percent of the 2027 budget goes to social protection—from baby bonuses to pensioners and foster families

TIRANA, November 10 /ATSH/ – Minister of Finance Petrit Malaj stated today that, “The 2027 budget will hit a record 10 billion euros, focusing on citizen support and social protection.” While presenting some of the key priorities of next year’s budget in a television interview, Malaj noted that, “The budget …

Read More
News

Rama attends reception hosted by Macron at Élysée Palace

TIRANA, November 10 /ATSH/ – Accompanied by his wife, Linda Rama, Prime Minister Edi Rama shared image of his arrival at the Élysée Palace, where he was greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. “At the Élysée Palace, during a reception hosted by French President Emmanuel …

Read More
News

Albania records 742 more births than deaths in third quarter, Tirana leads

TIRANA, Nov 10 /ATA/ – Albania recorded 742 more births than deaths in the third quarter of 2026, with the capital Tirana posting the highest positive natural population growth, according to data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) on Tuesday. A total of 5,787 births and 5,045 deaths …

Read More
News

Majlinda Dhuka says 2027 budget supports decisive phase of EU integration

Albania’s 2027 draft budget will support European Union accession negotiations and prepare the country for membership, State Minister and Chief Negotiator Majlinda Dhuka said on Tuesday. Speaking to the Assembly’s Committee on European Affairs and Foreign Policy, Dhuka said Albania had opened all negotiating chapters, received a positive assessment of …

Read More
News

Albanian embassy in Canada to highlight European identity and heritage in Ottawa

Albania’s European identity, cultural heritage and aspirations for the future will take centre stage during Albania’s European Week in Ottawa in 2026. The Embassy of the Republic of Albania to Canada will organise the event in collaboration with the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the University of Ottawa. …

Read More
News

Public safety is the true measure of success against drugs

Interior Minister Ervin Demo said police success depends on how safe citizens feel, how well authorities protect young people and how effectively they restrict criminal groups’ activities. Speaking at a joint conference of the State Police and Italy’s Guardia di Finanza on 2026 aerial monitoring results, Demo praised 15 years …

Read More
News
Kosova Prime Minister Albin Kurti seeks French support for European Union membership bid

Kosova Prime Minister Albin Kurti has asked France to support Kosova’s progress towards European Union membership, including candidate status and the opening of accession negotiations. Kurti made the request during a meeting at the French National Assembly with representatives of its Foreign Affairs and European Affairs committees. He discussed democratic …

News
Intensive food safety inspections to begin on January 1

Intensive food safety inspections will begin on January 1 to verify product standards and labelling, Agriculture Minister Andis Salla told a parliamentary committee during discussions on the 2027 draft budget. The Ministry of Agriculture will work with the National Food Authority and food safety laboratories to monitor products and check …

News
Albania to host European constitutional courts congress in 2027

Albania’s Constitutional Court will host the Congress of European Constitutional Courts in October 2027, providing a platform for exchanging ideas and initiatives on constitutional justice, Secretary-General Eugen Papandile told a parliamentary committee during discussions on the 2027 draft budget. Papandile said the event would strengthen Albania’s role in European judicial …

News
Ibrahimaj: New Programme to Help Businesses Align with EU Standards

Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj chaired a meeting of the Investment Council, bringing together business representatives and international partners to discuss ways to improve the investment climate, align businesses with European Union standards and simplify administrative procedures. The meeting presented an analysis by the Investment Council Secretariat, along …

News
Elbasan marks 82nd anniversary of its liberation with tribute to 23 fallen partisans

Elbasan marked the 82nd anniversary of its liberation on Wednesday with a ceremony honouring fallen members of the 15th Assault Brigade. Veterans of the National Liberation War, relatives of the fallen, local residents and local government representatives gathered at the monument dedicated to the 23 partisans who gave their lives …

News
Transparency Board caps diesel at 205 lek and petrol at 164 lek per litre

The Transparency Board has set new nationwide price caps for retail and wholesale sales of diesel and petrol. At its meeting on Wednesday, 11 November, the Board set the maximum retail price for diesel at 205 lek per litre and the maximum wholesale price at 193 lek per litre. Petrol …

News
PM Kurti says Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo would demonstrate genuine democracy

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has set a clear condition for Serbia’s next government to recognise Kosovo’s independence. In an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI), Kurti expressed hope that the Student List, which reportedly won Serbia’s 25 October parliamentary elections, would take a new approach to Kosovo and commit …

News
Students boycott classes and join nationwide protest

Anti-government protests continued on Wednesday, marking the 165th day of public mobilisation. A nationwide protest was announced in Tirana, with students and residents from several cities across the country expected to attend. The rally is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. outside the Ministry of Education. Protesters are then expected …

News
Shehu says EU report confirms Albania’s progress and warns violence cannot replace democratic dialogue

Arianit Shehu, executive director of the American Center for Countering Extremism and Terrorism (ACCET), says the European Commission’s progress report confirms that Albania is moving closer to European Union membership. In an opinion piece, Shehu argues that EU integration should take precedence over party interests. He describes the report, published …

News
Gogu discusses judicial reform and faster court proceedings with Italian counterparts

TIRANA, Nov 11 /ATA/ Justice Minister Toni Gogu held three meetings in Rome with representatives of Italian institutions, focusing on strengthening cooperation between Albania and Italy in the field of justice. During his visit to the Italian Senate, Gogu met with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, …

News

Kosova Prime Minister Albin Kurti seeks French support for European Union membership bid

Kosova Prime Minister Albin Kurti has asked France to support Kosova’s progress towards European Union membership, including candidate status and the opening of accession negotiations. Kurti made the request during a meeting at the French National Assembly with representatives of its Foreign Affairs and European Affairs committees. He discussed democratic …

News

Intensive food safety inspections to begin on January 1

Intensive food safety inspections will begin on January 1 to verify product standards and labelling, Agriculture Minister Andis Salla told a parliamentary committee during discussions on the 2027 draft budget. The Ministry of Agriculture will work with the National Food Authority and food safety laboratories to monitor products and check …

News

Albania to host European constitutional courts congress in 2027

Albania’s Constitutional Court will host the Congress of European Constitutional Courts in October 2027, providing a platform for exchanging ideas and initiatives on constitutional justice, Secretary-General Eugen Papandile told a parliamentary committee during discussions on the 2027 draft budget. Papandile said the event would strengthen Albania’s role in European judicial …

News

Ibrahimaj: New Programme to Help Businesses Align with EU Standards

Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj chaired a meeting of the Investment Council, bringing together business representatives and international partners to discuss ways to improve the investment climate, align businesses with European Union standards and simplify administrative procedures. The meeting presented an analysis by the Investment Council Secretariat, along …

News

Elbasan marks 82nd anniversary of its liberation with tribute to 23 fallen partisans

Elbasan marked the 82nd anniversary of its liberation on Wednesday with a ceremony honouring fallen members of the 15th Assault Brigade. Veterans of the National Liberation War, relatives of the fallen, local residents and local government representatives gathered at the monument dedicated to the 23 partisans who gave their lives …

News

Transparency Board caps diesel at 205 lek and petrol at 164 lek per litre

The Transparency Board has set new nationwide price caps for retail and wholesale sales of diesel and petrol. At its meeting on Wednesday, 11 November, the Board set the maximum retail price for diesel at 205 lek per litre and the maximum wholesale price at 193 lek per litre. Petrol …

News

PM Kurti says Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo would demonstrate genuine democracy

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has set a clear condition for Serbia’s next government to recognise Kosovo’s independence. In an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI), Kurti expressed hope that the Student List, which reportedly won Serbia’s 25 October parliamentary elections, would take a new approach to Kosovo and commit …

News

Students boycott classes and join nationwide protest

Anti-government protests continued on Wednesday, marking the 165th day of public mobilisation. A nationwide protest was announced in Tirana, with students and residents from several cities across the country expected to attend. The rally is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. outside the Ministry of Education. Protesters are then expected …

News

Shehu says EU report confirms Albania’s progress and warns violence cannot replace democratic dialogue

Arianit Shehu, executive director of the American Center for Countering Extremism and Terrorism (ACCET), says the European Commission’s progress report confirms that Albania is moving closer to European Union membership. In an opinion piece, Shehu argues that EU integration should take precedence over party interests. He describes the report, published …

News

Gogu discusses judicial reform and faster court proceedings with Italian counterparts

TIRANA, Nov 11 /ATA/ Justice Minister Toni Gogu held three meetings in Rome with representatives of Italian institutions, focusing on strengthening cooperation between Albania and Italy in the field of justice. During his visit to the Italian Senate, Gogu met with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, …