Latest News from Albania
EU Needs Western Balkans, Summit Leaders Say
A summit of regional leaders on Monday in Montenegro heard that the EU project is incomplete without the Western Balkans.
The EU accession process is not a technical but a political issue in which the specificities of each country must also be taken into account, it was further concluded.
Albania delays hydrocarbon bidding
Albania delayed by a month to mid-July the bidding for companies keen to explore for oil and gas on five onshore blocks and indefinitely for two offshore blocks, officials said on Monday.
A week before offers for the onshore bids were due on June 15, Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri ordered the bidding date be postponed for another month to give companies more time.
Albania Arrests Nine Over Health Insurance Fraud
Four officials and five owners and employees of pharmacies accused of stealing 56 million leks (400,000 euro) have been arrested in recent days as the Albanian government faces its biggest corruption scandal since it came to power 18 months ago.
Two similar cases involving suspected fraud of several million euros are also currently under investigation.
Balkan Governments Urged to Commit to Climate Targets
On World Climate Day on Friday, the SEE SEP network of CSOs from South East Europe, called on the governments of the region to act promptly and put forward ambitious commitments for the upcoming global climate agreement in Paris.
Macedonia Crisis Linked to Fate of Turkish Stream, Russia's EU Envoy Says
The key issue about Russia's Turkish Stream project is in what direction the future gas pipeline will go after reaching Turkey's border with Greece, Russia's ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov has said.
There are three options, three countries after the pipeline enters Greece, Russian news agency Interfax quoted Chizhov as saying in an interview.