Tirana Times, October 26, 2026 — Albania’s government has announced sweeping legal and financial penalties against anti-government protesters, including restrictions
Special Report No. 1 | by the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) Developments through the morning of 20 October 2026 Introduction Albania’s anti-government protests have become a sustained political
Student-led demonstrations turn into violent confrontations, with attacks on state institutions and luxury buildings amid allegations of systemic corruption, police
Prosecutors are considering organized crime charges against Vlora Hyseni as the expanding investigation raises questions about national security and Prime Minister Edi Rama’s decision
The American Chamber of Commerce warns of risks to foreign investment as the government’s 2027 fiscal package faces growing opposition from businesses, lawmakers and
Executive Summary The government presents its 2027 fiscal package as a redistribution from capital and higher incomes towards basic consumption and middle-income salaries. Its principal measures—higher dividend and standard VAT rates, a lower rate on essential foods and wider VAT registration—have prompted coordinated objections from domestic business organisations and foreign-investor
TIRANA, Albania — Albania’s proposed fiscal package for 2027 has triggered unusually broad opposition from domestic and foreign business organizations, with American, German and Italian investors warning that higher taxes and sudden changes in fiscal policy could undermine the country’s competitiveness and discourage future investment. The objections come as Prime
The investigation into alleged misuse of economic assistance comes amid renewed scrutiny of electoral practices, including claims involving prison votes and a history of vote-buying allegations in other districts.
Running through Nov. 13, the event will showcase Spanish history and contemporary culture through a series of activities hosted at cultural venues across the city.
By Zef Preçi TIRANA, Albania – At the end of April, in the presence of Albania’s prime minister and U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, the state-owned company Albgaz signed a 20-year agreement with Greece’s Aktor LNG USA for the supply of American liquefied natural gas (LNG). The government presented
Defense cooperation, economic ties and the fight against transnational crime take center stage in Eric Wendt’s agenda, signaling a more pragmatic approach to U.S.-Albanian relations. TIRANA, Albania – U.S. Ambassador to Albania Eric Wendt has identified defense cooperation, increased trade and investment, and the fight against transnational crime as Washington’s
Executive Summary The government presents its 2027 fiscal package as a redistribution from capital and higher incomes towards basic consumption and middle-income salaries. Its
TIRANA, Albania — Albania’s proposed fiscal package for 2027 has triggered unusually broad opposition from domestic and foreign business organizations, with American, German and
TIRANA, Albania — Albania’s proposed fiscal package for 2027 has triggered unusually broad opposition from domestic and foreign business organizations, with American, German and Italian investors warning that higher taxes and sudden changes in fiscal policy could undermine the country’s competitiveness and discourage future investment. The objections come as Prime
By Genc Pollo TIRANA, Albania – On November 4, as every year, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos presented the European Commission’s progress reports
Running through Nov. 13, the event will showcase Spanish history and contemporary culture through a series of activities hosted at cultural venues across the city.
How the vision of a scholar and the support of Prime Minister Edi Rama made it possible to bring one of Europe’s most prestigious institutions to Albania By Nora Ahmeti TIRANA, Albania – At 6 p.m. on December 2, 2022, Albert Rakipi, a well-known figure in academic, diplomatic and foreign
Kosovo-born, Austria-based artist honored for a career that has turned memory, displacement and identity into a bridge between cultures Tirana Times, September 29, 2026 – Kosovo-born Albanian painter Gazmend Freitag, who has built his artistic career in Austria, has been awarded the title “Painter of the Year 2025”, receiving the distinction
by Sokol Lleshi, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of New York Tirana Background The political systems in the Western Balkan region feature politicized public administrations, weak enforcement of rule of law norms, and inconsistent practices of political accountability. In general, the historical experience of the region is such that
Debates about EU enlargement tend to focus on the risks of admitting countries before they are ready. In her recent paper, Marta Szpala broadens the debate by examining what prolonged delay means for both candidate countries and the European Union itself. Tirana Times spoke with Szpala about how prolonged uncertainty
Spain clinches second FIFA World Cup title as Europe continues its dominance on football’s biggest stage By Gautam Karve, Editor-in-Chief, World Media Organization Tirana Times, July 22, 2026 – Spain secured its second FIFA World Cup title with a commanding performance, defeating Argentina in a final that showcased the Spanish
Running through Nov. 13, the event will showcase Spanish history and contemporary culture through a series of activities hosted at cultural venues across the city.
Albania’s Concrete Economy: How Construction Became the Country’s Dominant Growth Model Tirana Times, July 10, 2026 – A booming construction sector has made Albania
by Nora Ahmeti & Vilson Blloshmi Albania’s investigation into Bankers Petroleum Albania Ltd. is often narrated as a “China case” because the operator has
Executive Summary The government presents its 2027 fiscal package as a redistribution from capital and higher incomes towards basic consumption and middle-income salaries. Its
Special Report No. 2 | by theAlbanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) Developments through November 1, 2026 Introduction TIRANA, Albania – Albania’s student-led mobilization has become a prolonged political and institutional crisis. By November
Special Report No. 1 | by the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) Developments through the morning of 20 October 2026 Introduction Albania’s anti-government protests have become a sustained political crisis. By October 19,
SPAK investigation reaches the heart of Albania’s security establishment, raising unprecedented questions over classified information, organized crime and institutional integrity in a NATO member
Planned before Albania’s protest movement began, the concert was intended to strengthen the country’s international profile. But public financing, free tickets and a radically
The Albanian Files suggests that international architecture may have served not only as design, but as a prestigious façade for opaque money, captured institutions
Executive Summary The government presents its 2027 fiscal package as a redistribution from capital and higher incomes towards basic consumption and middle-income salaries. Its
Special Report No. 2 | by theAlbanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) Developments through November 1, 2026 Introduction TIRANA, Albania – Albania’s student-led mobilization has become a prolonged political and institutional crisis. By November
By Ilir Ikonomi One of the most important modern works ever written about Albania’s experience in the Second World War—Bernd Jürgen Fischer’s Albania at War,