Albania

Protests Erupt in Albania as Corruption Case Puts Political Leadership Under Pressure

Protesters in Tirana hurled petrol bombs at the government building housing Prime Minister Edi Rama's office on Monday, demanding the government's resignation after prosecutors indicted the deputy prime minister for…

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“We Know Our Responsibilities”: Rama Rejects Outside Guidance on Corruption Fight

Albania is committed to joining the European Union by 2030, Prime Minister Edi Rama told Euronews, labelling his country as “the most Euro-optimistic nation in Europe”. “2030 is not a…

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UPDATED: EU says it could admit new members by 2030, praises Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine

The European Commission said on Tuesday that the EU could welcome new members as early as 2030 as it praised Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova for their progress on reforms…

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Internationally active Albanian organised crime network busted

A series of raids performed 7 to 8 August 2025 in Albania saw the arrest of 10 suspected members of an Albanian organised crime network engaged in multi-tonne cocaine trafficking…

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‘Ndrangheta associates arrested for drug trafficking and violence

Europol has supported Italian law enforcement in dealing a heavy blow to the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organisation. In an action day conducted on 8 July 2025 across Italy, Spain and Albania,…

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Rama to secure historic 4th term in Albania

Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama secured a comfortable majority in Albania’s election, riding a wave of pro-EU sentiment to become the country’s longest-serving democratic leader. “It is the most humbling…

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The Albanian general election at a glance

A total of 26 political parties, including eight standalone and three coalitions, are competing for 140 seats in parliament under the proportional representation system. This will be Albania's tenth parliamentary…

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Albania’s Rama seeks fourth term in election dominated by graft, EU membership

Ilir Rranci moved to a hamlet outside the Albanian city of Elbasan for the view of snow-capped peaks and a garden big enough for fruit trees, chickens and turkeys. Today,…

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Albania to create a Vatican-style, Bektashi state in Tirana

Albania will create a sovereign Muslim state in Tirana for the Bektashi religious order, along the lines of the Vatican in Rome, to preserve and promote religious tolerance, Prime Minister…

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Italy, Albania, UAE sign deal for energy subsea interconnection

Italy, Albania and the United Arab Emirates signed on Wednesday a deal worth at least 1 billion euros ($1 billion) to build a subsea interconnection for renewable energy across the…

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Albania bans TikTok for a year after killing of teenager

Albania on Saturday announced a one-year ban on TikTok, the popular short video app, following the killing of a teenager last month that raised fears over the influence of social…

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Violent Albanian criminal group linked to corruption disrupted with the support of Europol

On 25 November, Albanian authorities, with the support of Europol, took enforcement actions against 21 individuals, including a former judge, a lawyer a police officer, and two investigative journalists as…

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Albanian ex-president Meta held on corruption charges

Former Albanian President Ilir Meta has been detained by police over corruption allegations, his lawyer said, calling the arrest politically motivated. Meta, 55, who was president from 2017-2022 and now…

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Italy adopts decree to overrule court objections on Albanian migrant camps

Italy's government on Monday passed a decree aimed at overcoming court objections to its flagship immigration plan that is aimed at deterring boat migrants by sending them to detention camps…

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Albania begins EU accession talks

Albania opened the first chapters of negotiating its accession to the European Union in Luxembourg on Tuesday. The Balkan country, which was granted candidate status in 2014, held its first…

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First group of migrants from Italy head to Albania

The first group of migrants were heading to Albania Monday to be processed in Italian-run centres set up in the Balkan country which have been criticised by rights groups as…

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Violent Protests in Tirana as Police Clash with Protesters Over Corruption

Albanian police fired tear gas to disperse opposition protesters who hurled petrol bombs at government buildings and smashed city property in what they said was part of a civil disobedience…

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Prosecutors indict Albania’s ex PM on corruption charges

Albania's main opposition leader Sali Berisha said he had been officially indicted on Wednesday on corruption charges for actions he took when he was prime minister, describing the indictment as…

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02

Aug

Coordinated crackdown on high-profile Albanian criminal network

The Albanian authorities, in cooperation with Europol and Belgian, Dutch and French law enforcement, have successfully concluded a major operation, arresting 15 suspected members of a notorious Albanian organised crime…

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Albania’s former PM Berisha loses appeal against ban from UK

Albanian opposition leader Sali Berisha, the country's former president and prime minister, on Monday lost his appeal against a ban on entering Britain over alleged criminal links.Berisha, head of Albania's…

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How does Italy’s migration deal with Albania work?

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Albania on Wednesday, where her government plans to build reception camps to house thousands of migrants picked up at sea. Looking to curb migration…

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Albania, wary of Russia, reopens Soviet-era air base to NATO

KUCOVA, Albania, March 4 (Reuters) - NATO member Albania, which has no fighter jets of its own, opened a rebuilt Soviet-era air base to serve NATO aircraft on Monday amid…

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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy arrives in Albania for southeastern Europe summit

Feb 28 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in the Albanian capital of Tirana, where he will attend a summit with countries of the Western Balkans and hold bilateral…

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Opposition protesters hurl petrol bombs at Albania government building

Opposition protesters pelted Albania's government building with petrol bombs and rocks late on Tuesday, accusing state officials of involvement in organised crime and corruption after their leader was placed under…

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UN rights chief voices concerns over Italy-Albania migrant pact

A deal allowing Italy to build reception camps in Albania for thousands of migrants arriving by sea raises concerns about arbitrary detention and living conditions, the U.N. human rights chief…

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Albanian opposition leader faces arrest after immunity lifted

TIRANA, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Albania's parliament voted on Thursday to lift the immunity of opposition leader Sali Berisha after his indictment on corruption charges, a decision expected to lead…

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Albania’s top court suspends ratification of migrant pact with Italy, citing constitutional review

By Florion Goga TIRANA, (Reuters) - The Albanian parliament will have to suspend ratification of a migrant pact agreed with Italy after a top court on Wednesday endorsed an opposition…

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Italy PM says deal with Albania on migrants could serve as blueprint

A deal reached this month by Italy with Albania to build centres for migrants coming ashore by sea could serve as a blueprint for other EU countries, Italian Prime Minister…

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Italy-Albania migrants deal does not breach EU law, Brussels says

A deal allowing Italy to build reception camps in Albania for thousands of migrants arriving by sea does not breach EU law which is not applicable, the bloc's top migration…

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Albania to host no more than 3,000 migrants under deal with Italy

ROME, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Albania will hold no more than 3,000 migrants at any one time under a deal announced this week allowing Italy to build two migrant reception…

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Italy’s migrant deal with Albania faces rights hurdles and red tape

By Angelo Amante and Alvise Armellini Italy's government is hailing as "historic" a plan to send seaborne migrants to Albania, but experts and opposition politicians warn that it could face…

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Albanian prosecutors charge former Prime Minister Sali Berisha in corruption probe

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albanian prosecutors have charged former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his son-in-law on corruption charges over a land deal involving the grounds of a sports club, investigators…

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Italian FM Tajani: We want Albania in EU before 2030

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told visiting Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at the foreign ministry Wednesday that Italy wants to see the Balkan country join the EU even ahead of…

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Italian tourists flock to Albania in key boost for economy

By Fatos Bytyci and Florion Goga SARANDA, Albania (Reuters) - A waiter in an Albanian restaurant in the coastal resort town of Saranda apologised to newly arriving customers that little…

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Bill Clinton tells Kosovo: stop ‘foolishness’ in Serb-majority north

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, largely credited for ending the Kosovo war more than two decades ago told Kosovo's government to stop its actions in the Serb majority north, where…

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Albania’s burgeoning tourism industry could prevent youth exile and boost economy

It has been more than 30 years since Albania opened its doors to tourists, but telling a friend that you’re off to Tirana or Dhërmi for a long weekend might…

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Albania suspends Golden Passport Scheme in effort to reassure European partners

Albania's Prime Minister, Edi Rama, has announced that the country's Golden Passport Scheme has been temporarily suspended, after pressure from EU and international institutions against such programmes continued to mount.…

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Albania seizes 22,500 tonnes of oil suspected of coming from Russia

TIRANA, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Albania has seized an oil tanker carrying 22,500 tonnes of oil suspected of coming from Russia and arrested the crew for breaching a Western embargo,…

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Albania’s opposition calls for PM Rama’s resignation

Thousands of supporters of Albania's center-right opposition gathered in front of the government building in Tirana today to call for the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is…

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Kosovo increases police patrolling after recent tensions

Kosovo police have stepped up patrols by Rapid Response Units following ethnic tensions last December when local Serbs blocked roads to protest Pristina rule. The area is inhabited by some…

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UK PM Sunak announces crackdown on Albanian migrants

LONDON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday Britain had agreed a new deal with Albania to crack down on the number of illegal migrants arriving on small…

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Albanian opposition leader punched in face as he marches to protest

Albanian opposition leader Sali Berisha was punched in the face by a male bystander as he led a crowd of his party's supporters to central Tirana for anti-government protests taking…

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Father and son missing as floods hit northern Albania

TIRANA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - A father and son were missing in Albania on Sunday after their car was swept into a river during floods in the north of the country as…

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Anti-government protesters scuffle with police in Albania

TIRANA (Reuters) - Opposition protesters scuffled with police in front of the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama on Saturday where tens of thousands had gathered to protest against corruption,…

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Albania tells Britain: do not blame us for your immigration problems

LONDON (Reuters) - Albania's prime minister accused Britain of using his country's citizens as scapegoats for its failed immigration policies after derogatory comments by British ministers about a rise in…

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U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran over cyber activities, cyberattack on Albania

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States imposed sanctions on Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and its minister, accusing them of being tied to a disruptive July cyberattack on Albania and engaging…

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UPDATED: Albanian police search empty Iranian embassy after papers burned

TIRANA, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Albanian counter-terrorism police searched the empty Iranian embassy in Tirana on Thursday, hours after Iranian diplomats burned papers inside the premises following the severing of…

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Albania cuts Iran ties, orders diplomats to go after cyber attack

TIRANA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Albania is ending diplomatic relations with Iran and has ordered Iranian diplomats and embassy staff to leave within 24 hours, after an investigation into a…

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Britain to work with Albania to deport migrants who cross Channel

Britain said on Thursday it would work with Albania to quickly process and repatriate the large number of Albanians who cross the English Channel in small boats, after a surge…

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Albania investigates military factory intruders from Russia and Ukraine

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albania said it was investigating why two Russians and a Ukrainian had tried to enter a military factory and police detained four Czech nationals also close to…

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Albania arrests two Russians, one Ukrainian trying to enter military plant

TIRANA (Reuters) - The Albanian Defense Ministry said that two of its soldiers were injured while trying to stop two Russians and one Ukrainian who tried to enter a military…

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Albania’s ex-PM says UK has barred him from entering

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albania’s former president and prime minister, Sali Berisha, said on Friday he had been banned by London from entering the UK for supposedly having links with criminal…

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Albania, North Macedonia finally start EU membership talks

Albania and North Macedonia began membership talks with the European Union on Tuesday, overcoming a series of obstacles thrown up by EU governments despite an original promise to begin negotiations in mid-2018.…

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NATO in talks to build naval base in Albania

Albania is in talks with NATO to build a naval base at Porto Romano, a port under construction on its Adriatic coast, Prime Minister Edi Rama revealed. Rama told a…

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Albania’s PM slams Bulgaria on Western Balkan EU membership

Bulgaria's block on North Macedonia's progress to join the European Union is a "disgrace", Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said as he arrived for a special Balkans summit with EU…

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Albanian PM: No EU membership talks soon

TIRANA — Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he doesn’t expect an EU summit next week to clear the way for his country to begin membership talks and placed the…

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Scholz calls for EU to open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania

SKOPJE (Reuters) - The European Union should kick off accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania to finally fulfil its pledge to integrate the Western Balkans, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz…

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