Von der Leyen: 63 Schools Rebuilt or Renovated with EU Support
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she will visit Emin Duraku School in Tirana tomorrow with Prime Minister Edi Rama. The EU supported the school’s reconstruction after the 2019 earthquake. At a joint press conference with Rama, von der Leyen recalled the EU’s support for Albania after the …
Von der Leyen: Accession Commitments Must Continue After EU Membership
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU continues to work on its new enlargement package. She also said future accession treaties could include safeguards similar to those in previous treaties. At a joint press conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama, reporters asked von der Leyen whether the …
Rama: No Security Partner Has Raised Concerns Over SHISH Case
Prime Minister Edi Rama said the courts should handle the case involving former State Intelligence Service (SHISH) chief Vlora Hyseni. Rama also said no security partner has raised concerns about the case. At a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Rama said the European Commission …
Von der Leyen: Corruption Probes Show Albania’s Justice System Is Working
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the fight against corruption and organized crime remains central to Albania’s EU integration process. At a joint press conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama, von der Leyen said investigations into senior officials show that Albania’s justice system is working. “The fight against …
Rama: My Political Responsibility Is to Keep Justice Reform on Track
Prime Minister Edi Rama said his political responsibility lies in continuing justice reform and strengthening the fight against corruption. At a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, journalists asked Rama whether he felt politically responsible for government appointments, including that of former SHISH chief Vlora …
Von der Leyen in Tirana: Albania among the frontrunners in the accession process
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during her visit to Tirana, held a joint press conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama, where she praised Albania’s progress in the European integration process. Von der Leyen stressed that Albania is among the frontrunners in the accession process, highlighting the opening of …
Von der Leyen: Albania has completed 80% of reforms
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Albania’s progress in implementing the EU Growth Plan, stating that the country has completed 80% of the planned reforms. During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana, she announced that Albania has so far received €213 million, with …
Von der Leyen: 63 schools rebuilt with EU support
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that 63 schools in Albania have been rebuilt or renovated through the “EU for Schools” programme. During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama, she recalled the European Union’s support following the 2019 earthquake and stressed that the schools programme …
Rama and Ursula von der Leyen asked about former SHISH chief, Prime Minister responds
Prime Minister Edi Rama and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were asked during their joint press conference in Tirana about SPAK’s measure against former SHISH Director Vlora Hyseni and whether the issue had been discussed between them. Rama said that what some in Albania portray as regression is …
Rama meets Wendt, U.S. Embassy: A strong partnership is measured by what two nations achieve together
The U.S. Embassy has issued a statement regarding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s meeting on Wednesday with the new U.S. Ambassador, Eric Wendt. The Embassy shared images from the meeting, stating that a strong partnership is measured by what two nations achieve together. In its post, the Embassy said that Rama …
By Zef Preci Tirana Times, September 30, 2026 – For more than two decades, Albania has had legislation requiring senior public officials to declare their assets and financial interests. Yet persistent concerns over unexplained wealth suggest that the central issue is no longer simply whether officials submit asset declarations. The …
Investigators examine weapons deals, state-linked defense companies and the role of businessman Ron Yeffet after allegations of international arms trafficking surfaced in recordings released by former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj. Tirana Times, October 03, 2026 – A series of searches by Albania’s special prosecutors has opened a potentially significant …
Albania lost 2-1 to Finland at Helsinki Olympic Stadium in a Nations League League C Group 1 match. Rey Manaj put Albania ahead in the fourth minute with a header from Kristjan Asllani’s corner. Goalkeeper Etrit Berisha then made a mistake in the 22nd minute and had to intervene outside …
Electricity distribution losses in Albania fell to 15.6% in the first eight months of 2026, according to data from the Electricity Distribution System Operator. The figure marks a continued improvement from 18.93% in 2023, 17.93% in 2024 and 16.96% in 2025. Regional data also show lower losses. Fier recorded the …
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said Albania is among the leading candidates in the European Union enlargement process. In an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, she placed Albania and Montenegro at the front of the process, followed by Moldova and Ukraine. Kos said enlargement had achieved more …
Albania U19 secured a second consecutive victory over Lithuania U19, coming from behind to win 2-1 in a friendly match at the Vora Stadium. Lithuania took the lead in the first half, scoring from one of their few chances of the game. However, Albania responded strongly after the break and …
The International Dance Festival Tirana (IDFT) will launch its fifth edition on October 3, bringing a rich program of contemporary dance, international artists and artistic companies to the Albanian capital through October 21. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said the festival will feature 17 performances in nine …
The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Michel Tarran, met today with representatives of the Union of Judges, the National Association of Judges and the Association of Prosecutors of Albania to discuss recent developments in the country’s justice system. According to the OSCE Presence, the discussion focused on …
Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media today from “Gran Tour Albania,” an event that brought Italian collectors of vintage cars to the historic city of Gjirokastër. “Motoring enthusiasts and tourists added a new color to Gjirokastër in autumn,” Rama wrote alongside photos from the event. Rare vintage …
The National Library in Tirana hosted the presentation of “Usta Josifi and the Saze of Përmet,” a new monographic study by author Niko Mihali dedicated to one of Albania’s richest musical traditions. The book explores the urban folk music tradition of Përmet and focuses on the life and contribution of …