Albania

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OSCE Chides Albania Over June Local Elections

The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission offered about 23 recommendations to Albania to improve elections standards in its final report on the June 21 local election, published on Tuesday.

The report raised concerns about the campaign, the process and the administration of justice related to electoral disputes.

Balkan States Told to Take in More Refugees

Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, on Wednesday proposed a new plan for accepting 160,000 refugees in the EU and at the same time proposed that non-EU countries in the Western Balkans be put on a list of safe countries.

The proposition presented to the European Parliament adds another 40,000 to an existing plan for quotas set in May.

Albania Power Plant Approval Angers Greens

Albaian environmentalists have voiced dismay over the government's decision to give initial approval to the proposal of a Turkish company, paving the way for a concessionary agreement to build the Pocem Hydropower plant on the Vjosa River.

The company in question is Çinar-San Hafriyat Nakliyat In?aat Turizm Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited ?irketi.

Refugee Crisis: European Commission takes decisive action

Delivering on the European Agenda on Migrations from May, the European Commission is putting forward a comprehensive package of proposals which will help address the refugee crisis that EU Member States and neighbouring countries are facing, including by tackling the root causes making people seek refuge in Europe.

Albania Opposition Urges Interior Minister to Quit

Albanian Interior Minister Sajmir Tahiri told parliament that he does not intend to resign and called on the General Prosecutor to investigate oposition claims about his alleged crime links to drugs smugglers.

The opposition claims Tahiri has links to drug dealers and that the police have been infiltrated by criminal elements that protect the drug traffic routes.

Auditors Query Albania Electricity Firm's Data

A group of independent auditors hired by Albania's electricity distribution network operator OSHEE, to audit its financial statements for 2014, has refused to give an opinion, noting inconsistencies in the data.

The unaudited financial statements of the company shows that in 2014 revenues jumped to 47.2 billion leks (?337 million) from 37.7 billion leks (?269 million) in 2013.

Albania PM Declares 'War' on Fiscal Evasion

Albanians awoke on Tuesday to a new sense of alarm over fiscal bills. Coffee shops scrambled to use cash registers that were installed back in 2010 but rarely used since then.

Over the last month, several top officials including the Prime Minister Edi Rama have threatened taxpayers and consumers alike with heavy fines.

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