Gjirokastër: Traditional Fairs Bring Albania and Kosovo Together
In Gjirokastër, traditional fairs held throughout the summer season promote the values of handicrafts and traditional crafts as key attractions for tourists. Souvenirs skillfully crafted by artisans have become increasingly popular among visitors, who take them home as mementos of their visit to the Stone City. These events become even …
Tourism Season Opens in Pustec, Number of Foreign Tourists on the Rise
Tourism season has officially opened in the minority municipality of Pustec, one of the most unique tourist destinations in southeastern Albania. In recent years, the Prespa National Park has experienced a significant increase in visitors, particularly foreign tourists, who are captivated by the area’s natural beauty, the lake, Maligrad Island, …
Property Ownership Issues in Gjirokastër: Historic Buildings Abandoned, Museum Heritage Values at Risk
In Gjirokastër, property ownership disputes involving protected cultural monuments are threatening the preservation of the Stone City’s historical and architectural heritage. As a result of these issues, several historic buildings and traditional houses have deteriorated or lost part of their museum and cultural value. “One of the main challenges we …
Braçe: Protest Is Legitimate, Government’s Job Is to Govern the Country and Serve the People
Socialist Party MP Erion Braçe has reacted to the anti-government protest that has been taking place in Tirana for the past two weeks. In a post published on his Facebook page, Braçe described the protest as a legitimate right, while stressing that the government must continue carrying out its duties …
Five Arrested in Special Prosecutor’s War Crimes Operation
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:7ab79576-af91-4b8c-b48b-97e65e1f28af-2″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:7ab79576-af91-4b8c-b48b-97e65e1f28af-2″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-6″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> Five people were arrested on Sunday during a joint operation conducted by the Special Prosecution Office and the Kosovo Police as part of an investigation into war crimes in the case known as “Reçak II.” According to a statement from …
Kosovo Elections: Diaspora Vote Gives Vetëvendosje Another Seat, AAK Loses One
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”3272e71f-83dd-431c-af08-91fb3910d404″ data-turn-id-container=”3272e71f-83dd-431c-af08-91fb3910d404″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-7″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> The Vetëvendosje Movement has secured 51 seats in the Kosovo Assembly following the processing of around 20 percent of the votes cast by the diaspora through postal ballots. At this stage of the count, the party has won more than …
Rama Reacts Minutes Before the Protest: When Facts Say Otherwise, Noise Becomes the Argument
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has published a detailed statement on social media regarding investment projects on Sazan Island and in the Zvërnec area, just minutes before the start of a citizen protest in Tirana against the planned development in Zvërnec, which has now entered its 15th day. In a …
Malaj: Albania Remains One of the Most Stable Economies in the Region
Minister of Finance Petrit Malaj said Albania continues to stand out as one of the most stable economies in the region. He said the country maintains positive growth prospects. This comes despite global uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and inflationary pressures. Furthermore, he referred to the latest World Bank report. He said …
UEFA U-21 Euro 2027: Work Begins to Convert “Arena e Demave” Pitch to Natural Grass
Preparations for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2027 are now underway in Albania. Work has started at the Arena e Demave Stadium to replace the artificial turf with natural grass. The process has already begun with the removal of the existing playing surface. Next, workers will install a modern irrigation …
Rama: Theth Cleaner Thanks to Youth Energy and Engagement
Prime Minister Edi Rama praised a cleanup action held in Theth as part of environmental protection initiatives. The campaign brought together many young people and volunteers under the motto: “Nature gives to us, we take care of it.” He said the initiative showed strong civic responsibility and respect for the …
Toni Gogu met with Mattias Guyomar in Strasbourg. During the meeting, the two officials discussed the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights. They also reviewed the execution of rulings issued by the European Court of Human Rights and the progress of Albania’s justice reform. Furthermore, Gogu described the …
Silvio Gonzato took part in an event marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. UNHCR Albania, Albania’s Ministry of Interior, and other partners organized the event in Tirana. During his remarks, Gonzato stressed that the Refugee Convention remains a cornerstone of international protection for people fleeing persecution, violence, …
Justice Minister Toni Gogu took part in the informal meeting of the Council of Europe’s Justice Ministers. He spoke during a panel on the role of financial intelligence in combating money laundering and financial crime. During his remarks, Gogu stressed that the main challenge today is not collecting financial information. …
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that Albania has recently made significant progress on its path toward European Union membership. According to Kos, Albania met the Interim Benchmarks Assessment Report (IBAR) requirements on the rule of law. As a result, the country can now begin the process of closing …
Andreas Schieder said the European Parliament will reaffirm Albania’s strong commitment to the European Union. Speaking during a plenary session of the European Parliament, Schieder praised Albania’s progress in the accession process. He noted that the country opened all negotiation clusters within just 13 months. In addition, Albania recently achieved …
Kosovo and the European Commission held the annual meeting of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Monitoring Committee. The meeting focused on the implementation of EU financial and technical support for Kosovo. In addition, participants reviewed reforms that support Kosovo’s path toward European integration. Since 2007, the European Union has …
Ferit Hoxha met with Günter Krichbaum during his visit to Luxembourg. The two officials discussed Albania’s path toward European Union membership. They also reviewed the current momentum of the EU enlargement process. Furthermore, Hoxha said they exchanged views on the opportunities created by the renewed focus on enlargement across Europe. …
In Albania, real civic society is no longer in donor-funded conference rooms. It is in the streets. By Mrika Temali Tirana Times, June 16, 2026 – Thirty-five years after the fall of communism, Albania offers a bitter paradox. The European Union, Western governments and international foundations have spent millions indeed …
UEFA representatives continued inspections in Albania as preparations advance for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2027, which Albania will co-host. First, UEFA experts visited stadiums over a four-day inspection tour. They assessed technical and operational readiness for the tournament. They focused on lighting systems, backup generators, security measures, and other …
TIRANA, June 16 – Housing prices in Albania continued to rise during 2025. At the same time, transaction volumes fell in the second half of the year. The Bank of Albania said the trend requires more time and data to determine whether it reflects a slowdown or a correction after …