Balkan Farmers Struggle to Access Tens of Millions of Euros in EU Funds
Farmers in Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia face similar challenges when trying to access funds from the European Union’s IPARD programme. Original post Here
Ukrainian Visit to Serbia Yields Pledges to Revive Trade
Ukrainian Foreign Minister says Kyiv delegation’s two-day visit to Serbia – a friend of Russia’s – ended with agreement to restore bilateral trade to pre-war levels. Original post Here
Political Attacks, Misogynistic Insults Continue to Pollute Balkan Online Space
The aftermath of elections in Turkey and Croatia and the electoral campaign in North Macedonia prompted politically-motivated digital rights violations in the region this month, while Kosovo and Montenegro saw an increase in misogynistic attacks on women online. Original post Here
Balkan Support for EU Accession High, Except in Serbia – Survey
Corruption remains a serious concern for people across the Western Balkans, where trust in politicians is low but support for EU accession high, except in Serbia. Original post Here
Condolences – and Silence – from Balkans Over Iranian President’s Death
Expressions of sorrow over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials are coming from some Balkan countries but not others – depending on the state of their relations with Tehran. Original post Here
Unofficial Same-Sex ‘Marriage’ Ceremony Causes Controversy in Albania
A same-sex couple held a private civil partnership ceremony at Tirana City Hall – but even though it had no legal standing, their ‘marriage’ sparked angry reactions from traditionalists. Original post Here
Conflict of Interest? Restaurant Investment Raises Questions for Albanian Minister
Municipality’s payments to a restaurant owned by the wife of the former deputy mayor – now a government minister – raises fresh questions about business connections between state officials and their private business partners. Original post Here
Never Forget: Albanians Commemorate Communist-Era Labour Camp Uprising
Victims of Albania’s communist regime and activists gathered at a former labour camp to honour the prisoners’ uprising in 1984 and call for the location to be preserved as a reminder of past suffering. Original post Here
‘The Same Coin’: Crackdown Exposes Organised Crime’s Penetration of Albanian Politics
Experts say an operation that used seized communications app data to investigate seven organised crime groups offers new evidence of the connections in Albania between gangsters, politics and the economy. Original post Here
Albania Bank Governor Faces Prosecution Threat Over Fraudulent Loans
Prosecutors say Gent Sejko has questions to answer over a dodgy company that harassed some 17,000 Albanians for nonexistant loans, and which operated under bank’s license for years. Original post Here
In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here
Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here
Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …
Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here
June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …
By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania 20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …
Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here
by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …
By Tirana Times As the cobblestone streets of Korça echo with French music, scent of Alpine cuisine, and the laughter of children discovering animated French classics, the southeastern Albanian city reaffirms a timeless connection with France—one rooted in history, education, and enduring cultural admiration. From June 14 to 24, Korça …
By Lutfi Dervishi For decades, the most pressing keywords in Albania’s political lexicon were democracy, corruption, and justice. Today, however, the most dangerous threat to the country’s future may lie elsewhere—hidden in plain sight and dangerously underdiscussed: demography. According to the most recent official census, Albania’s population stands at approximately …