Albania’s 2027 budget doubles pension bonuses and disability payments for children
Albania’s 2027 draft budget will double monthly pension bonuses from January 1, while increasing support for children with disabilities and families in need. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj presented the measures at the Conference of Chairpersons. Pension indexing is scheduled for April 2027, with around ALL 1.35 billion allocated for the …
Equinoxe Europe Brings International Screenwriting Experts to Albania
Durrës has become a meeting point for screenwriters and filmmakers from across Europe, as Albania hosts the international Equinoxe script development programme for the first time. The National Center of Cinematography said the programme has more than 30 years of experience in developing film scripts through professional guidance and collaboration …
Korça attracts autumn tourists as New Year bookings begin
Korça continues to welcome groups of foreign tourists in autumn, with its traditions, local cuisine and hospitality drawing visitors from Albania and abroad. Tourists are visiting the city’s main attractions and exploring its streets. Tour operator Eriketa Koçollari said foreign groups from around the world continued to visit the city …
Qatari-backed partnership targets $2 billion in investments in Albania and Kosova
Strategic Group and Qatar-based Ocean B Holding have signed a strategic cooperation framework targeting up to $2 billion in investments in Kosova and Albania. Under the agreement, Ocean B Holding has authorised Strategic Group to represent its investment interests across the region. The mandate also covers Montenegro, North Macedonia and …
Albania allocates ALL 76.7 billion for defence, 2.35% of gross domestic product
Albania plans to allocate ALL 76.7 billion to the Ministry of Defence in 2027, including ALL 7 billion in additional funding. The allocation will bring defence spending to 2.35% of gross domestic product, reflecting Albania’s commitments as a NATO member. Presenting the 2027 draft budget at the Conference of Chairpersons, …
2027 fiscal package raises dividend tax and cuts value-added tax on basic goods
Finance Minister Petrit Malaj presented the 2027 fiscal package at the Conference of Chairpersons. He said the proposed changes would have a neutral overall effect. The package aims to redistribute income and protect vulnerable groups and the middle class. The plan rests on 3 principles: income redistribution, greater tax fairness …
Bonuses for Albanian Police on Protest Frontlines Spur Calls for Accountability
Security experts say Prime Minister Edi Rama has crossed a line in gifting police officers a 2,500-euro bonus for facing down protesters against his rule. Original post Here
Albanian Customs Strengthen Regional Cooperation Against Cross-Border Crime
The Albanian Customs Administration is strengthening regional cooperation to fight cross-border crime. It works with international authorities through the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC), sharing information and coordinating operations. The administration also supports joint efforts to improve regional security. As part of this work, it reports information on seizures …
Lungomare 3 Transforms Radhimë, Boosting Vlora’s Tourism Potential
The Lungomare 3 project is transforming Radhimë and expanding Vlora’s potential for quality tourism. The investment has upgraded coastal infrastructure and created modern public spaces for residents and visitors. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared new footage of Radhimë, highlighting the ongoing urban transformation along the Vlora coast. The new promenade …
Albania Approves Transport Strategy and Action Plan Through 2030
The Albanian government has approved a new Transport Sector Strategy and action plan through 2030. The Council of Ministers adopted the decision on Tuesday. The strategy and action plan will guide the measures and policies planned for the transport sector over the next four years. Under the decision, the Ministry …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has unveiled “Pasqyrë Albania”, a new digital platform designed to improve transparency over public investments and help citizens track applications, public services and complaints in real time. During the launch, Saimir Kapllani, an expert at the National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI), outlined the platform’s four …
Albania marks 73 years since the premiere of the opera “Rusalka”, staged in November 1953. The production marked the first opera staged by the Albanian Philharmonic. It also laid the foundations for the establishment of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet and the Popular Ensemble. The Albanian Telegraphic Agency …
Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha has reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to EU membership, marking 33 years since the Maastricht Treaty entered into force and established the foundations of the European Union. In a social media post on November 1, Hoxha said the anniversary offered Albania an opportunity to look ahead to EU …
Prime Minister Edi Rama held a meeting today with experts from the National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI), who have been working on the development of the “Pasqyra Albania” platform, to learn more about its features and innovations. During the discussion, Rama explained that the platform is built around four …
Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, has commemorated the 33rd anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty’s entry into force, highlighting Albania’s path toward integration into the European Union. In a post on social media platform X, Hoxha described the treaty as a defining moment in the establishment of …
Around 55 pilots from Albania and various European countries are taking part in the 14th edition of the “Korça Open Air” championship, held in Lumalas. For four days, the airfield has been transformed into an arena for precision landing competitions, where pilots challenge one another to achieve the most accurate …
Albania plans to return to international financial markets in 2027 with the issuance of a new Eurobond. The planned amount is approximately €690 million, which would make it the largest borrowing of this kind ever undertaken by the country. According to the draft 2027 budget, the Eurobond issuance will amount …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has appointed Vlera Gjakova as his media adviser. Gjakova is originally from North Macedonia but has spent a significant part of her life in Kosovo, where she has also been involved in politics. Eight years ago, she joined Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje Movement, and in the 2019 …
Two separate protests took place in Tirana on Saturday. Students, lecturers and citizens gathered outside the Ministry of Education for the 19th consecutive day, demanding political change, the prime minister’s resignation and better living and education conditions. Meanwhile, the main opposition party held a rally outside the Prime Minister’s Office. …
The US Embassy in Tirana has urged American citizens to avoid protest areas, warning that demonstrations could escalate into violence and disrupt traffic and public services. In an official security alert, the embassy said protests continue in central Tirana and near government institutions. Some demonstrations have turned violent, with reports …