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How Would Europe Look Today Without Albania?

by Lutfi Dervishi In a continent teetering on the brink of demographic catastrophe, Albania, which is often bearing more weight than its knees can handle—a burden that should have been carried by the great powers—is emerging as a humanitarian superpower. While the EU has been grappling for decades with an …

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Exhibition Shows How Communist Albania Spied on Foreign Tourists

In a private house in the port city of Durres, two local professors have put together an exhibition looking at how the Communist-era Sigurimi secret service kept its eyes on tourists daring to visit Europe’s most isolated country. Original post Here

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Labour inspection monitors “Kurum”/ Experts go to the premises of the Turkish company

The working group, set up by the State Labor inception, arrives near the premises of “Kurum”, which will be familiar with the documentation and conditions of the employees who have left their jobs. “There will be verification with the departure of the employees as it has been confirmed that he …

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Albania is officially the country of honor of tourism fair in Berlin

Albania has received an invitation to be the Country of Honor at the Fair Center in Berlin. The news was announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama, as he considers this as an extraordinary promotion of the country. Rama has met with the boss of the Berlin Fair Center Mario Tobias …

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The Assembly meets on September 12 for Xhaçka/ The Council of Legislation reviewed the decision of the Constitution

The Council of Legislation has decided that the decision of the Constitutional Court for Olta Xhaçka will be discussed in the session of September 12. “In the session of September 12, the consideration of the constitutional court will also be part of the agenda,” declared Dhurata Çupi. The decision to …

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“Next year we will open the consulate in Durres”, Fajon: Slovenia supporting Albania towards EU

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon, warned in the conference and the joint statement with Minister Hasani in Tirana, that next year, the Slovenian consulate will be opened in Durres. While praising the cooperation between the two countries, Fajon said …

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Man condemned with 25 years in jail for murder dies at hospital

Fotaq Zaharia, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for murder, passed away at QSUT. The 64-year-old man died in the early hours of Monday in the intensive care unit of QSUT, where he was diagnosed with respiratory insufficiency and was being treated since August 16. The convict was …

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Today, the ambassadors’ conference “Tirana Diplo 2024” discusses the challenges of Albanian diplomacy

The Ambassadors and Consuls General of the Republic of Albania are meeting this Monday in Tirana. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, announced the day before that the conference of ambassadors “Tirana Diplo 2024” will focus on the challenges of Albanian diplomacy in the process of integration into the …

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Rama: Albania, historical transformation in the internal and external plan

Prime Minister Edi Rama says that Albania has undergone a historic transformation, both internally with the reforms undertaken, and externally, as he mentioned the image that our country has created in the international arena. In the opening speech at the conference with the country’s ambassadors, Rama said: “We live today …

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“We will host NATO Summit in 2027”, Rama: We will continue to strengthen the trust of our strategic partners

Prime Minister Edi Rama has revealed at the ambassadors’ conference “Tirana Diplo 2024” that Albania will be the host country of the NATO Summit in 2027. He emphasized that once no one believed that our country would make such a big deal, but our relationship with the world has changed. …

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Europe’s Next Enlargement: Why Berlin, Paris and The Hague Could Decide the Fate of the Western Balkans

TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What initially appeared to be a Brussels-driven discussion about how to accelerate Ukraine’s accession has quickly evolved into a broader political reckoning inside key member states over the future shape, pace, …

News
Albanian MPs Adopt Resolution Declaring Iran ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’

Ruling Socialist Party MPs aiming to support the US on the Iran war push through resolution – but opposition MPs boycott the vote they claim was staged ‘for the personal agenda of the Prime Minister’. Original post Here

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Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage

by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet …

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‘Cruel, Sadistic’: Albanian Communist State’s Killings of Escapees Still Mostly Unpunished

In the final years of Albania’s communist dictatorship, the authorities shot dozens of citizens trying to flee the country – and most of the attempts to bring the killers to justice have met obstruction and incompetence. Original post Here

News
Major Cocaine Heist Reveals Albanian Links to Swedish Drug Trade

The theft of a shipment of cocaine that was smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden exposed the role of Albanian criminal groups in the international logistics of the drug trade, as well as the challenges in holding them accountable. Original post Here

News
Iran-Linked Hackers’ Fresh Strike on Albania Highlights Continued Negligence

A new cyberattack by Iran-linked Homeland Justice group targeting Albania’s parliament revealed the continued vulnerability of state digital systems and failures to implement basic security measures. Original post Here

News
Week in Review: The Wheel of Fortune

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the changing fortunes, power dynamics and neighbourly relations of countries and actors in South-east Europe. Original post Here

News
Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, blocking a request by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, and triggering one of the gravest confrontations yet between …

News
UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans

Survey of women who gave birth recently reveals a “pervasive yet often hidden crisis of obstetric violence” and a widespread dissatisfaction with medical care. Original post Here

News
Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ruling Socialist Party uses its majority in parliament to vote down a prosecution request to lift former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku’s immunity, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

News

Europe’s Next Enlargement: Why Berlin, Paris and The Hague Could Decide the Fate of the Western Balkans

TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What initially appeared to be a Brussels-driven discussion about how to accelerate Ukraine’s accession has quickly evolved into a broader political reckoning inside key member states over the future shape, pace, …

News

Albanian MPs Adopt Resolution Declaring Iran ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’

Ruling Socialist Party MPs aiming to support the US on the Iran war push through resolution – but opposition MPs boycott the vote they claim was staged ‘for the personal agenda of the Prime Minister’. Original post Here

News

Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage

by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet …

News

‘Cruel, Sadistic’: Albanian Communist State’s Killings of Escapees Still Mostly Unpunished

In the final years of Albania’s communist dictatorship, the authorities shot dozens of citizens trying to flee the country – and most of the attempts to bring the killers to justice have met obstruction and incompetence. Original post Here

News

Major Cocaine Heist Reveals Albanian Links to Swedish Drug Trade

The theft of a shipment of cocaine that was smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden exposed the role of Albanian criminal groups in the international logistics of the drug trade, as well as the challenges in holding them accountable. Original post Here

News

Iran-Linked Hackers’ Fresh Strike on Albania Highlights Continued Negligence

A new cyberattack by Iran-linked Homeland Justice group targeting Albania’s parliament revealed the continued vulnerability of state digital systems and failures to implement basic security measures. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: The Wheel of Fortune

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the changing fortunes, power dynamics and neighbourly relations of countries and actors in South-east Europe. Original post Here

News

Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, blocking a request by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, and triggering one of the gravest confrontations yet between …

News

UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans

Survey of women who gave birth recently reveals a “pervasive yet often hidden crisis of obstetric violence” and a widespread dissatisfaction with medical care. Original post Here

News

Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ruling Socialist Party uses its majority in parliament to vote down a prosecution request to lift former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku’s immunity, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here