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S&P confirms Albania’s ‘BB’ rating, maintains stable outlook

Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings has reaffirmed Albania’s long-term sovereign credit rating at “BB” and maintained a “stable” outlook. In its analytical report published on Sept. 21, the agency said Albania’s per capita income has increased significantly in recent years. At the same time, government debt and overall external debt …

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Transparency Board Announces New Fuel Prices: Diesel at 213 Lek/Litre and Petrol at 193 Lek/Litre

The Transparency Board announced on Tuesday the new fuel prices in the country, approved at its meeting on September 22, 2026. According to the decision, the retail price of diesel has been set at no more than 213 lek per litre, while the wholesale price has been set at no …

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U.S. Embassy: When the United States and Albania Stand Together, Communities Are Safer

The U.S. Embassy in Tirana has shared photos and details on social media from the 42nd Retraining Session of the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) European Chapter. The training took place from September 19 to 23, bringing together professionals from the United States, Albania, and across Europe. In its statement, …

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New Rules for Private Pension Funds Aim to Protect Citizens’ Savings

Greater oversight of private pension funds and more transparency for citizens. This is the aim of the new legal amendments announced for public consultation, which seek to align Albania’s pension fund rules more closely with European Union standards. The Financial Supervisory Authority is at the centre of the changes and …

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Kosovo Albanian Accused by Serbia of War Crimes Released by Croatian Authorities

Croatian authorities have released Bajram Bajrami, who had been arrested on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by Serbia. He was accused of committing war crimes while serving as a member of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Donika Gërvalla took the necessary …

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Albania Has 28,000 More Women Than Men, Due to Emigration and Longer Life Expectancy

There are 28,000 more women than men in Albania. Although birth statistics in recent years show a ratio in which boys outnumber girls, at the end of 2025 there were 1,182,000 women and 1,154,000 men. At the end of 2025, Albania’s resident population stood at 2,336,000. Compared with the end …

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Spain Could Hinder Montenegro’s EU Integration

Spain could become an unexpected obstacle on Montenegro’s path towards membership of the European Union (EU), due to Madrid’s domestic political agenda. The Spanish government is now directly linking the issue of recognising Catalan, Basque and Galician as official EU languages with the bloc’s future enlargement. Madrid insists that the …

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Berisha Meets MEP Tarquinio: Albania Facing Severe Consequences from the ‘Narco-State’

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha announced in a Facebook post that he held a meeting at the DP headquarters with MEP Marco Tarquinio, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee. During the meeting, Berisha said he informed the MEP about the opposition’s concerns …

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Day 115 of Protests, Citizens Gather Outside the Prime Minister’s Office

This Tuesday, numerous citizens and activists once again took to the streets as the ongoing protest entered its 115th day. As every afternoon, shortly after 6:30 p.m., protesters initially gathered in Skanderbeg Square, chanting slogans such as: “Your time is up,” “New Albania,” “Rama resign,” and “Rama in prison, Berisha …

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Albania’s Intelligence Chief Suspended for Allegedly Aiding Crime Group

Intelligence service chief Vlora Hyseni is accused of involvement in a major corruption scandal surrounding tenders for the agency handling development of state information systems. Original post Here

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Former Intelligence Chief Accused of Blackmailing Leading Investigative Journalist

Vlora Hyseni’s public accusation against Klodiana Lala has triggered an unusually broad reaction from journalists’ organizations and opposition politicians, while raising a deeper question: was Albania’s intelligence service collecting information on investigative journalists, and could such information have been used to intimidate them? Tirana Times, September 24, 2026 – Klodiana …

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European Bank for Reconstruction and Development raises Albania growth forecast to 3.5%

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has raised its forecast for Albania’s economic growth in 2026 to 3.5%, from 3.4% in June. The bank linked the revision to reforms and investment related to European Union accession. Albania’s economy grew by 3.8% in 2025 and by 3.7% in the first …

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Archaeological research resumes at Paleolithic settlement in Gajtan near Shkodër

Archaeological research has resumed for a second consecutive year in Gajtan village, east of Shkodër, near the Gajtan Cave. The work forms part of the Gajtan Paleolithic Archaeological Research in Albania project. Archaeologist Rudens Ruka leads the project, which brings together Albania’s Institute of Archaeology and several French research institutions. …

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FM Hoxha meets EU vice-president Kallas, reaffirms Albania’s commitment to regional cooperation

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha attended a lunch hosted by European Commission Vice-President and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. Western Balkan leaders and foreign ministers also attended. The discussions focused on current developments in the Western Balkans, regional challenges and closer …

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Excellence and internship programmes offer entry to Albania’s public administration

The Excellence Programme and the National Internship Programme are government initiatives that help young graduates enter Albania’s public administration. The two programmes differ in the type and duration of the opportunity they offer. Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu shared the experiences of two young women who have joined the public …

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Albania collects record 164.9 billion ALL in customs revenue

Albania’s Customs Administration collected a record 164.9 billion ALL in revenue during the first eight months of 2026. The figure is 6.8 billion ALL higher than in the same period last year. According to the General Directorate of Customs, the result reflects stronger import activity, improved administration and tighter controls. …

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President Begaj meets Albania’s top security officials

President Bajram Begaj met with Interior Minister Ervin Demo, General Director of the State Police Skënder Hita and acting State Intelligence Service director Elvis Lila on September 24. The Presidency said Begaj discussed current issues with the three officials. The meetings came after the Special Prosecution Office investigated former State …

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Tirana-Durres railway and airport link targeted for 2027

Albania aims to improve its railway network in the coming years. Major projects will strengthen links between Tirana, Durrës, the airport and regional transport corridors. Deputy Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enkelejda Muçaj said the Tirana-Durrës railway and its connection to Tirana International Airport should become operational by that date. She …

News
Durrës Port handles more than 2.78 million tonnes of goods in eight months

Durrës Port handled more than 2.78 million tonnes of goods and 1,432 vessels during the first eight months of the year. The figures cover the January-August period. The port reported a high level of activity during the period. Durrës Port remains one of Albania’s main hubs for maritime transport and …

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China: Development, Openness and Cooperation

By H.E. Ms. Pang Chunxue, Ambassador of the Republic of China to the Republic of Albania Seventy-seven years ago, Chairman Mao Zedong proudly declared to the world: “The Chinese people have stood up!” Through reform and opening-up, China has become prosperous and has developed into the world’s second-largest economy. Today, …

News

Former Intelligence Chief Accused of Blackmailing Leading Investigative Journalist

Vlora Hyseni’s public accusation against Klodiana Lala has triggered an unusually broad reaction from journalists’ organizations and opposition politicians, while raising a deeper question: was Albania’s intelligence service collecting information on investigative journalists, and could such information have been used to intimidate them? Tirana Times, September 24, 2026 – Klodiana …

News

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development raises Albania growth forecast to 3.5%

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has raised its forecast for Albania’s economic growth in 2026 to 3.5%, from 3.4% in June. The bank linked the revision to reforms and investment related to European Union accession. Albania’s economy grew by 3.8% in 2025 and by 3.7% in the first …

News

Archaeological research resumes at Paleolithic settlement in Gajtan near Shkodër

Archaeological research has resumed for a second consecutive year in Gajtan village, east of Shkodër, near the Gajtan Cave. The work forms part of the Gajtan Paleolithic Archaeological Research in Albania project. Archaeologist Rudens Ruka leads the project, which brings together Albania’s Institute of Archaeology and several French research institutions. …

News

FM Hoxha meets EU vice-president Kallas, reaffirms Albania’s commitment to regional cooperation

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha attended a lunch hosted by European Commission Vice-President and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. Western Balkan leaders and foreign ministers also attended. The discussions focused on current developments in the Western Balkans, regional challenges and closer …

News

Excellence and internship programmes offer entry to Albania’s public administration

The Excellence Programme and the National Internship Programme are government initiatives that help young graduates enter Albania’s public administration. The two programmes differ in the type and duration of the opportunity they offer. Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu shared the experiences of two young women who have joined the public …

News

Albania collects record 164.9 billion ALL in customs revenue

Albania’s Customs Administration collected a record 164.9 billion ALL in revenue during the first eight months of 2026. The figure is 6.8 billion ALL higher than in the same period last year. According to the General Directorate of Customs, the result reflects stronger import activity, improved administration and tighter controls. …

News

President Begaj meets Albania’s top security officials

President Bajram Begaj met with Interior Minister Ervin Demo, General Director of the State Police Skënder Hita and acting State Intelligence Service director Elvis Lila on September 24. The Presidency said Begaj discussed current issues with the three officials. The meetings came after the Special Prosecution Office investigated former State …

News

Tirana-Durres railway and airport link targeted for 2027

Albania aims to improve its railway network in the coming years. Major projects will strengthen links between Tirana, Durrës, the airport and regional transport corridors. Deputy Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enkelejda Muçaj said the Tirana-Durrës railway and its connection to Tirana International Airport should become operational by that date. She …

News

Durrës Port handles more than 2.78 million tonnes of goods in eight months

Durrës Port handled more than 2.78 million tonnes of goods and 1,432 vessels during the first eight months of the year. The figures cover the January-August period. The port reported a high level of activity during the period. Durrës Port remains one of Albania’s main hubs for maritime transport and …

News

China: Development, Openness and Cooperation

By H.E. Ms. Pang Chunxue, Ambassador of the Republic of China to the Republic of Albania Seventy-seven years ago, Chairman Mao Zedong proudly declared to the world: “The Chinese people have stood up!” Through reform and opening-up, China has become prosperous and has developed into the world’s second-largest economy. Today, …