Recently completed mural in Art Park of Tirana pays tribute to women of Albanian Film Archive
TIRANA, November 4, ATSH/ A new mural dedicated to the women who have worked at the Central State Film Archive over the years has been completed in Tirana’s Art Park. This artwork—a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sports and the Central State Film Archive—serves as a …
Bank of Albania keeps key interest rate unchanged at 2.5%
The Bank of Albania has kept its key interest rate unchanged at 2.5%. The Supervisory Council announced the decision on November 3. Governor Gent Sejko also confirmed that the overnight deposit rate will remain at 1.5%. Meanwhile, the overnight lending rate will stay at 3.5%. Sejko said the decision reflects …
Albania strengthens aviation emergency response with search-and-rescue drill
Albania will test its aviation emergency response capabilities today through a planned search-and-rescue exercise near Tirana International Airport. The drill, named SAR-2026, will run from 10:30 to 12:00. The National Search and Rescue Centre is organising the exercise with institutions responsible for aviation emergencies. Participants include the Armed Forces, Tirana …
Albanian and Hungarian national libraries launch cultural cooperation
The National Library of Albania and Hungary’s National Szechenyi Library have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen professional, scientific and cultural ties. The signing ceremony brought together Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Lira Pipa and Hungarian Ambassador to Albania Martina Laura Kasnyik. The agreement provides for exchanges …
FM Hoxha: Albania seeks merit-based European Union membership, not shortcuts
Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha attended the international conference “EU Enlargement: Assessing New Concepts and the Outlook for 2027,” organised by the German Council on Foreign Relations. Hoxha said geopolitical realities had made enlargement a strategic and security necessity for Europe. However, he stressed that this …
Lezha begins construction of a new pedestrian zone
Construction has begun on a new pedestrian promenade in Lezha, a project worth ALL 62 million funded by the municipal budget. The development aims to create new recreational spaces for residents and tourists. The municipality expects to complete the project by next summer. Deputy PM Albana Koçiu shared footage of …
European Commission to present Albania’s 2026 progress report in Brussels
The European Commission is expected to publish its 2026 Enlargement Package today at around 13:00, including its annual report on Albania. The report will assess reform progress, accession criteria and the challenges Albania must address on its path towards European Union membership. For the first time, the package is expected …
Government plans higher spending on public security in 2027
Interior Minister Ervin Demo has presented the government’s proposed 2027 budget for the Interior Ministry to the Assembly’s Committee on Internal Affairs and Defence. The plan allocates around ALL 40 billion, a 12% increase from 2026 and the ministry’s highest budget allocation to date. It aims to strengthen public security, …
Kruja: where history, culture and mountain tourism meet
Located on the slopes of a mountain, the historic city of Kruja remains one of Albania’s most popular tourist destinations. Just a short distance from Tirana, it attracts local and international visitors with its rich history, cultural traditions and natural beauty. Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared new images of …
Government draft budget for 2027 prioritises infrastructure and energy projects
Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi has announced that the government’s draft budget for 2027 provides full funding for priority infrastructure and energy projects. It includes investment in roads and water supply and sewerage systems across all 12 counties. Key road projects include continued construction of the Elbasan bypass, completion …
Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko met European Central Bank Executive Board member Piero Cipollone to discuss payment modernisation and Albania’s financial integration with the European Union. Cipollone is visiting Albania to attend the eighth International Conference on Regional Card Schemes and Financial Market Infrastructures for Small-Value Payments. Sejko highlighted …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has described the European Commission’s 2026 progress report as the best Albania has ever received. He made the remarks at a joint press conference with European Union Ambassador Sofia Moreira de Sousa, who formally presented the report. Rama said the document marked a new path towards …
Prime Minister Edi Rama and the European Union Ambassador to Albania, Sofia Moreira de Sousa, held a joint press conference on Thursday, one day after the European Commission published its progress report on Albania. During her remarks, the EU Ambassador said the report’s clear message was that Albania had made …
The European Union Ambassador to Albania, Sofia Moreira de Sousa, called on institutions to create space for dialogue to address public grievances expressed through protests in Tirana, during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama. Moreira de Sousa stressed that violence has no place in a democracy and …
The mass protests in Albania were also discussed during a joint press conference held by Prime Minister Edi Rama and the European Union Ambassador to Albania, Sofia Moreira de Sousa. Asked by reporters whether the protests could develop into a student movement similar to the mass demonstrations in Serbia, which …
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ – Albania could become a member of the European Union by 2029, but achieving that goal will require substantial efforts and faster progress in implementing reforms, EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa said on Thursday. Speaking at a joint news conference with Prime Minister …
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha said today that the European Commission’s Progress Report on Albania highlights the adoption of draft laws put forward by the governing majority without transparency or public consultation. He described this practice as evidence of a lack of transparency in Parliament and …
Photojournalist Gani Xhengo: ATA photographs bear witness to Albania’s history and collective memory
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ – Gani Xhengo, a photojournalist who worked for the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) from 1970 to 1998, visited the photographic exhibition “32 Images, 32 Stories – An Albania in Transformation” at the Klik Ekspo Group trade fair on Thursday, sharing memories and insights from his career …
TIRANA, November 5 /ATSH/ – Chairman of the Democratic Party Sali Berisha reacted today to the European Commission’s annual progress report on Albania. In a statement to the media, Berisha appreciated the report as unprecedented in the history of relations between Albania and the European Union. He remarked that, in …
TIRANA, Nov 5 /ATA/ Students from the “Students in Protest” and “Student Revolution” groups, together with four civil society organisations, today filed three complaints with the Constitutional Court challenging acts adopted by the government on 28 October 2026. The students said their challenges concern Normative Acts No. 5/2026 and No. 6/2026, …