Blog
News

Customs collections grow by 440 million lekë in October, defying exchange rate impacts

TIRANA, November 11 /ATA/ – The Customs Administration collected 21.1 billion lekë in revenue last month, marking a 440-million-lekë increase compared to the same period last year. Official data shows this positive performance held steady despite significant currency headwinds. The depreciation of the euro (down roughly 5%) and the US …

Read More
News

Hita meets Italian counterpart to boost cooperation against emerging criminal threats

TIRANA, Nov 11 /ATA/ State Police Director General Skënder Hita and his delegation held talks in Rome today with Italian Police Director General Prefect Vittorio Pisani. Both sides highlighted the strong ties between the two countries and pledged to further advance their strategic partnership, with particular emphasis on strengthening investigative …

Read More
News

Gogu-Nordio talks focus on expanding Albania-Italy cooperation in justice sector

TIRANA, Nov 11  /ATA/ Justice Minister Toni Gogu held talks with his Italian counterpart, Carlo Nordio, in Rome today to discuss closer cooperation between the two countries in the justice sector. In a social media post, Gogu expressed his gratitude for Italy’s ongoing support as a strategic partner in Albania’s EU …

Read More
News

Koçiu: “Speak with Prime Minister” platform has received over 1,272 citizen messages, while replies have been issued to 220, so far

TIRANA, November 11 /ATSH/ – Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu announced today that over 1,272 citizens have registered on the “Speak with Prime Minister” platform, with more than 220 of them having already received a response. In a social media post, Koçiu noted that she met with the relevant team …

Read More
News

FM Hoxha expresses solidarity with France over cyberattacks, appeals for European unity

TIRANA, Nov 11 /ATA/ Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha said today that “Albania expresses its full solidarity with France following the devastating cyberattacks, unprecedented in scale, carried out by an offensive cyber unit linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps”. ‘Albania stands in full solidarity with France …

Read More
News

Maran: We must take pitch with total focus—fans believe in us

TIRANA, November 11 /ATSH/ –Ahead of tomorrow’s match against Finland at the Air Albania Stadium (20:45), Albania head coach Rolando Maran struck an optimistic tone. Speaking at the press conference, Maran acknowledged the backing of the Albanian supporters, emphasizing that their packed presence in the stands is a testament to …

Read More
News

Albania’s 2027 Tax Plan Raises Concerns Over Foreign Investment and Business Climate

TIRANA, Albania — Albania’s proposed fiscal package for 2027 has triggered unusually broad opposition from domestic and foreign business organizations, with American, German and Italian investors warning that higher taxes and sudden changes in fiscal policy could undermine the country’s competitiveness and discourage future investment. The objections come as Prime …

Read More
News

Albania’s 2027 Fiscal Package and the Risks to Investment

This content is for members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read. The post Albania’s 2027 Fiscal Package and the Risks to Investment appeared first on Tirana Times. Original post Here

Read More
News

Finance Minister Petrit Malaj: 30% of 2027 budget allocated to social protection

Albania’s 2027 budget will reach €10 billion for the first time, with 30% allocated to social protection, Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said in a television interview. As part of the plan, the government has allocated €250 million to pensions in 2027, including funding for pension indexation. In addition, it plans …

Read More
News

Vlora port suspends small-vessel departures as weather conditions worsen

The Port of Vlora Harbour Master’s Office has banned departures by small vessels and fishing boats planning to operate outside the Bay of Vlora from November 11 to 14 due to worsening weather conditions. The forecast warns of southerly to southeasterly winds reaching force 7–8 on the Beaufort scale, with …

Read More
News
PROFILE | Who is Esmeralda Hasani, the new head of Albania’s State Intelligence Service?

Esmeralda Hasani is a lawyer specialising in international law and holds a doctorate in political science. She has more than 20 years of experience in government institutions, international organisations and European integration, with a career spanning law and public administration. Hasani has served as an adviser in the Prime Minister’s …

News
Rama in Dublin: Sazan Island has not been sold, and Albania remains committed to joining the EU

Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed several key domestic and international issues in remarks to reporters in Dublin, where he is attending the European Political Community meeting. Asked about the war in Ukraine and relations with Russia, Rama said it had been a mistake to focus exclusively on military support for …

News
US Ambassador Eric Wendt meets students in Tirana, calls young people key to Albania’s future

US Ambassador to Albania Eric Wendt met with Rochester Institute of Technology students at the American Academy of Technology in Tirana (AATT). During the visit, Wendt learned about education and innovation programmes designed to prepare young people for future challenges and help them take on leadership roles in society. The …

News
PM Rama responds after protesters throw eggs at him in Dublin: “This is democracy”

Prime Minister Edi Rama has responded to a protest by a group of Albanians in Dublin, where demonstrators threw eggs at him and chanted slogans against the Albanian government as he was leaving a venue. Asked by reporters about the incident, Rama played it down, describing it as an expression …

News
Albania and Italy strengthen police training ties as Hita visits Rome academy

During an official visit to Italy, Albanian State Police Director General Skënder Hita and his delegation visited the Italian Police Academy in Rome, where they were welcomed by its director, Mario Viola. During the meeting, Hita praised the cooperation between the two institutions and stressed the importance of education and …

News
PM Rama meets Ukrainian President Zelensky at Dublin summit

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday, where both leaders were attending the ninth European Political Community summit. Footage released from the summit showed the two leaders talking at a table with a third person. Speaking to reporters in the Irish capital, Rama …

News
Spanish Cultural Week brings award-winning film ‘A House on Fire’ to Tirana

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Spanish cinema, known for its original storytelling and its ability to blend humour with human drama, is taking centre stage in Albania as part of Spanish Cultural Week. The programme features A House on Fire (Casa en flames), directed by Dani de la Orden, a …

News
School in Vlora undergoes complete renovation

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Marigo Posio School in the southern Albanian city of Vlora is set to reopen to pupils and teachers following a comprehensive renovation of its facilities. Renovation works have been completed, with the installation of classroom equipment and teaching materials still under way to ensure modern …

News
INSTAT: Albania’s labour costs rise 42.9% from 2020

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Employers in Albania faced significantly higher labour costs in 2024, with average hourly labour costs reaching 559 leks, up 42.9% from 391 leks in 2020, according to a Labour Cost Survey published by the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT). The average monthly labour cost per …

News
Berisha questioned by SPAK over complaint against judge, vows legal action against judicial watchdog chiefs

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha was questioned by the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) on Thursday as the complainant in a case involving judge Irena Gjoka, and said he would file further criminal complaints against senior judicial officials. Speaking to reporters after appearing …

News

PROFILE | Who is Esmeralda Hasani, the new head of Albania’s State Intelligence Service?

Esmeralda Hasani is a lawyer specialising in international law and holds a doctorate in political science. She has more than 20 years of experience in government institutions, international organisations and European integration, with a career spanning law and public administration. Hasani has served as an adviser in the Prime Minister’s …

News

Rama in Dublin: Sazan Island has not been sold, and Albania remains committed to joining the EU

Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed several key domestic and international issues in remarks to reporters in Dublin, where he is attending the European Political Community meeting. Asked about the war in Ukraine and relations with Russia, Rama said it had been a mistake to focus exclusively on military support for …

News

US Ambassador Eric Wendt meets students in Tirana, calls young people key to Albania’s future

US Ambassador to Albania Eric Wendt met with Rochester Institute of Technology students at the American Academy of Technology in Tirana (AATT). During the visit, Wendt learned about education and innovation programmes designed to prepare young people for future challenges and help them take on leadership roles in society. The …

News

PM Rama responds after protesters throw eggs at him in Dublin: “This is democracy”

Prime Minister Edi Rama has responded to a protest by a group of Albanians in Dublin, where demonstrators threw eggs at him and chanted slogans against the Albanian government as he was leaving a venue. Asked by reporters about the incident, Rama played it down, describing it as an expression …

News

Albania and Italy strengthen police training ties as Hita visits Rome academy

During an official visit to Italy, Albanian State Police Director General Skënder Hita and his delegation visited the Italian Police Academy in Rome, where they were welcomed by its director, Mario Viola. During the meeting, Hita praised the cooperation between the two institutions and stressed the importance of education and …

News

PM Rama meets Ukrainian President Zelensky at Dublin summit

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin on Thursday, where both leaders were attending the ninth European Political Community summit. Footage released from the summit showed the two leaders talking at a table with a third person. Speaking to reporters in the Irish capital, Rama …

News

Spanish Cultural Week brings award-winning film ‘A House on Fire’ to Tirana

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Spanish cinema, known for its original storytelling and its ability to blend humour with human drama, is taking centre stage in Albania as part of Spanish Cultural Week. The programme features A House on Fire (Casa en flames), directed by Dani de la Orden, a …

News

School in Vlora undergoes complete renovation

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Marigo Posio School in the southern Albanian city of Vlora is set to reopen to pupils and teachers following a comprehensive renovation of its facilities. Renovation works have been completed, with the installation of classroom equipment and teaching materials still under way to ensure modern …

News

INSTAT: Albania’s labour costs rise 42.9% from 2020

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Employers in Albania faced significantly higher labour costs in 2024, with average hourly labour costs reaching 559 leks, up 42.9% from 391 leks in 2020, according to a Labour Cost Survey published by the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT). The average monthly labour cost per …

News

Berisha questioned by SPAK over complaint against judge, vows legal action against judicial watchdog chiefs

TIRANA, Nov 12 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha was questioned by the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) on Thursday as the complainant in a case involving judge Irena Gjoka, and said he would file further criminal complaints against senior judicial officials. Speaking to reporters after appearing …