Latest News from Albania

Dacic: Single economic zone no substitute for EU membership

TRIESTE - Serbia welcomes the Berlin Initiative as Belgrade believes it demonstrates that the EU is maintaining the enlargement agenda, Serbian FM Ivica Dacic said in Trieste Wednesday, adding that consent on a single economic area in the region was a good thing but that the concept could not be accepted as a substitute for EU membership.

Die Welt: EU wants to create mini-Yugoslavia

Reporting about the Western Balkans Summit in Trieste, German newspaper Die Welt writes that "the EU wants to create a new mini-Yugoslavia in the Balkans."

This is according to Croatia's Index website, that said the summit brought together "the countries of the Western Balkans, as well as the leaders of Germany, France and Italy, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic."

Italy warns EU must keep door open to Balkan members

Italy warned Wednesday that the European Union must keep its doors open to eventual membership for Western Balkan countries or risk allowing Russia and other global powers to increase their influence in the region.

Albanian ex-dictator’s grandson jailed for smuggling cocaine

An Albanian court has sentenced the grandson of former communist dictator Enver Hoxha to ten years in jail for smuggling cocaine, a statement said on Wednesday.

Ermal Hoxha is part of a nine-member group, which includes two Columbians, whose were served prison terms from 10 to 13 years on Tuesday, a Tirana court said.

Rama Shames Albania's 100 Least Helpful Officials

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Wednesday published a list of 100 names of people holding positions in the public administration and the judiciary - all accused of not being very helpful to ordinary citizens.

Political Crisis Slowed Down Economic Growth in Albania

In Albania, the political crisis slowed down economic growth. This is the conclusion of the latest report of the European Commission on the associate member countries and potential associate member countries of the European Union, according to the Independent Balkan News Agency.

Angela Merkel: 'Political stability of the Western Balkans Means Political Stability For Us as Well'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the European Union is committed to bring the Western Balkans region "slowly but surely" to EU membership, reported BGNES.

"Political stability in the region means political stability for us as well. We know this from the past experience, "she said at the European Forum for the Western Balkans in the Italian city of Trieste.

EU Ready to Finance Rail Link Between Bulgaria and Macedonia

Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations has told Deutsche Welle that the EU would finance the construction of a railway linking Bulgaria and Macedonia, which is part of a Pan-European Corridor 8, stretching between the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and the Adriatic coast of Albania, quoted by BGNES.

Albanian PM combines suit, tie, and sneakers/VIDEO

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Tuesday arrived in Trieste, Italy, for the Western Balkans Summit, held within the Berlin Process.

The cameras captured Rama's "somewhat relaxed" fashion style, that combined a suit, a tie, and a pair of sneakers.

The EU Will Finance the Construction of the Macedonia-Bulgaria Railway Line

The European Union will finance the construction of the Corridor 8 railway line, which should connect the Black Sea with the Adriatic Sea and pass through the territory of the Republic of Macedonia. This is what EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn told Deutsche Welle.

Albania's Chams Fight to get Leader Into Parliament

The Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, PDIU, which lobbies for the rights of the Cham community in Albania, is fighting a battle with the Central Electoral Commission over its chairman's right to sit in parliament.

Balkan-EU Summit to Discuss 'Common Market'

Wednesday's summit in the Italian city of Trieste is expected to focus on financial programmes, a customs union and common market, but also the so-called 'Marshall Plan for the Balkans' - a German scheme to use EU funds to finance large-scale infrastructure projects in the region.