Latest News from Albania

New Transparency Report Gives Balkan Countries Poor Scores

Transparency International's new report on perceived levels of public-sector corruption says Balkan countries are seen as highly corrupt and all of them have below-average ratings.

Albania has the worst score of the Balkan states, closely followed by Kosovo and Macedonia.

Greek and Macedonian PM nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

According to the Greek City Times, Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev are in the running for his prestigious award thanks to the signing of the Prespa Agreement.

The agreement, signed in June 2018, renames the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (whose constitutional name was "the Republic of Macedonia)") into "the Republic of North Macedonia."

European Union presidency to back FYROM accession talks

The European Union presidency says it will back the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to open accession talks after it reached a deal to change its name.

Romanian European Affairs Minister George Ciamba said Monday he wanted negotiations to start for FYROM in June at a meeting of EU ministers.

NATO Invests € 50 Million in Airbase 350 km from Sofia

NATO officially began work in Kuchova, Albania for the construction of the first airbase in the Western Balkans, announced the Ministry of Defense, cited by SeeNews.

Albania, Kosovo applaud name deal adoption that will stabilize region

Albania and Kosovo have hailed the vote of the Greek parliament ratifying the Prespes name deal, saying it's a great contribution to regional stability.

A statement Friday from Albania's Foreign Ministry considered the vote a "key contribution to stability, development and Euro-Atlantic integration of the whole region."

FYROM PM congratulates Greek counterpart

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has congratulated Greece following Friday's vote in the Greek Parliament to ratify the deal normalizing relations between the two countries.

"They used to pick up guns, now they pick up phones"

He added that there have been events in the past few weeks that would in the past would have lead to "both sides reaching for their weapons."

"Today, the presidents of these countries reach for the phone and call each other," the EU official has been quoted as saying.

According to him, these are some positive moves when observed over a longer period of time.

Albania, Macedonia, Profit from Kosovo's Tariff War

After Kosovo imposed a tax of 100 per cent on Serbian and Bosnian imports, citing their attitude of hostility, Kosovo appears to be replacing imports from Serbia with those from other countries in the region.

Kosovo Customs says Albania and Macedonia have benefitted most since the tariff was imposed.

US Balkan Allies Recognise New Venezuela President

Shortly after Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself the rightful President of the country, instead of incumbent Nicolas Maduro, Albania and Kosovo joined a host of other countries around the world in recognising his claim.

Tesla Makes Charging Stations in the Balkans, but Ignores Bulgaria

Some time ago, Tesla promised that in 2019 it will cover the whole of Europe with its supercharging charging stations to extend "from Ireland to Kiev (Ukraine), from Norway to Turkey." The expansion of Musk's company is mainly focused on Central and Western Europe, where dozens of similar facilities already exist, but it also covers the Balkans.

Albania Rights Groups Condemn 'Undemocratic' Media Bills

A number of organizations in Albania dedicated to the protection of human rights, media freedom, freedom of information and journalists associations called on Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday to withdraw two proposed bills that would empower the government to regulate online media outlets, under the threat of penalties and closure.