Latest News from Albania
Man, 32, killed in drive-by shooting in Athens
A 32-year-old Albanian man was fatally shot by motorcycle-riding hitmen in the eastern suburb of Vyronas late on Thursday.
EU: Bilateral disputes should not delay accession process
The European Commission hopes Northern Macedonia will begin accession talks with the EU the soonest possible and, referring to bilateral disputes between Northern Macedonia and Bulgaria, as well as Albania and Greece, reiterated its position that bilateral disputes should not delay the accession process.
North Macedonia citizens no longer see Greece as threat, survey finds
The citizens of North Macedonia no longer consider Greece as a threat to their country but they remain concerned about Bulgaria and Russia, a survey of five Balkan countries has found.
The opinion poll, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI), also found that Albanians consider Greece a serious threat to their country.
Campaigning for Euro elections resumes after Easter break
After the Easter respite, party leaders resume their pre-election campaigns on Tuesday, as we enter the last stretch before the European Parliament elections.
On the diplomatic front, the government in Athens is preparing for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' planned visit to Ankara next Monday, where he will be meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Greek MEP decries ‘baseless’ incarceration of Himare mayor-elect
The conviction by the Albanian authorities of Himare mayor-elect Fredi Beleri is "flimsy and baseless," the chairman of the EU-Albania Joint Parliamentary Stabilization and Association Committee and New Democracy MEP Manolis Kefalogiannis reiterated on Monday after visiting the jailed ethnic-Greek politician.
Rama visit hangs in the balance
Questions have arisen as to whether Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's visit to Athens will finally be allowed on May 12, when he is scheduled to address a gathering of Albanian immigrants, members and friends of his party.
The rally had originally been planned to be held at the Galatsi Olympic Hall, before permission was revoked by the municipality due to other planned activities.
Double standards
New Democracy's decision to nominate Fredi Beleri, the imprisoned mayor of Himare, as a candidate for the European Parliament aims to highlight Albania's violation of the rule of law as a European concern. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis made this clear on Wednesday, while also condemning attempts to monopolize these "progressive" issues.
10-15% Higher Prices: Bulgarians and Foreigners Brace for Increased Travel Costs as Holiday Season Approaches
As the May holidays mark the onset of sea tourism, Bulgarians and foreigners preparing for their annual getaways are facing a stark reality: trips this year will come with a heftier price tag, with expenses expected to surge by 10-15% compared to last year.
Fredi Beleri named ruling ND candidate in European elections
Ruling New Democracy announced Fredi Beleri, an ethnic Greek mayor-elect in Albania recently sentenced to two years in prison for vote-buying, as a candidate for the upcoming European Parliament elections.
He was represented by his brother, Leonardo, at the ballot announcement in downtown Athens, as Beleri is currently in Albanian police custody.
Initiative of the New York diaspora – Fredi Beleris was declared Honorary Grand Marshal of the 5th Avenue Parade (video)
Greeks in the US sent a strong message to Albania & the US Government that they stand by the elected Mayor of Himara as well as all Greeks of Northern Epirus
Beleri unlikely to be ND candidate in European Parliament elections
Fredi Beleri, an ethnic Greek mayor-elect in Albania sentenced to two years in prison in March for vote-buying, is unlikely to be a candidate for the European Parliament with Greece's ruling party, New Democracy, in June's European Parliament election, Kathimerini understands.
World Bank sees Western Balkan economies growing but reforms needed
Economic growth in the six Western Balkan countries is projected to rise 3.2% this year and 3.5% in 2025, going back to pre-pandemic averages but still too low for faster convergence with the European Union, the World Bank has said in a report.
Balkan countries eye hydrogen in rush to lower emissions
It never occurred to Baki Bajraktari that the presence of hydrogen in the Bulqize chrome mine where he works in northeastern Albania could be considered good news: a colleague died in an explosion in 2011 when a team hit a gas pocket.
Europol Report: Bulgarians Among Key Players in EU's Most Dangerous Criminal Networks
A recently unveiled Europol report has shown the pervasive influence of criminal networks in the European Union, particularly implicating Bulgarians, Romanians, Serbs, and Ukrainians in the most perilous operations related to human trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation.
UN rights council demands halt of arms sales to Israel
The U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday demanded a halt to all arms sales to Israel, highlighting warnings of "genocide" in its war in Gaza, which has killed more than 33,000 people.