Albania
World Bank projects growth upturn for Western Balkans from 2027
But region needs to focus on job creation and reforms to catch up with average EU living standards within the next 40 years.
Rifts on show at EU-Western Balkan summit in Albania
Differences apparent over EU reform as well as friction between Serbia and Kosovo.
Judge shot dead in Albanian courtroom
A man on trial opened fire in a courtroom in Tirana, killing a judge Astrit Kalaja and injuring two other people.
European leaders caught on video mocking Trump for confusing Albania with Armenia
Video shows Albania’s Edi Rama joking with French President Emmanuel Macron and Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev at EPC summit over US president’s repeated geographic blunders.
EU’s influence declines in its neighbourhood as China and Russia gain ground
Chinese presence growing in Western Balkans, while Russia makes gains in Turkey, shows new index developed by wiiw, Bertelsmann Stiftung and ECIPE.
EBRD says geopolitics, tariffs and China competition weigh on Emerging Europe growth
Development bank downgrades 2025 forecasts for Central and Eastern Europe citing weak external demand, rising debt and the impact of US tariffs.
Albania launches nationwide cleanup of abandoned car graveyards
Albania has one of Europe's oldest car fleets, and a waste management sector that lags behind those of EU members and other Western Balkan countries.
Albania shifts to high-tech policing with expanded use of security cameras and surveillance drones
Western Balkan governments are leveraging cameras, drones and AI to enhance law enforcement, raising concerns among rights activists.
Trump mistakes Armenia for Albania for the third time at UK press conference
US president says he brought peace to “Aberbaijan” and Albania as he touts his peacemaker credentials during UK state visit.
Albanian PM’s presentation of AI ‘minister’ to MPs ends in chaos
Opposition lawmakers disrupted Prime Minister Edi Rama’s presentation of Diella, the world’s first AI-generated government minister.
Albania aims to revive domestic defence industry as it hosts top Nato officials
Albania ended domestic arms production after the collapse of its communist regime but is now working to restart the industry.
Albania names world’s first AI-generated minister as Rama unveils fourth-term cabinet
Albania's long-serving Prime Minister Edi Rama names his new cabinet with a view to securing EU accession.
Kosovo announces €1bn military budget and “Made in Kosovo” drones
Acting PM Albin Kurti outlines an ambitious security and defence agenda, but formation of Kosovo's next government remains on hold.
Serbia records lowest support for EU in Western Balkans, survey shows
Just 33% of respondents in Serbia backed EU membership, compared with 91% in Albania and 69% in North Macedonia.
Future 500 Forum to tackle Europe’s chronic scale-up gap
As Europe lags Asia and the US on competitiveness, a new initiative aims to give Central and Southeast Europe’s most promising companies a shot at becoming global champions, co-founder Stjepan Orešković tells bne IntelliNews.
Albania’s Q2 power imports jump 16.5% as hydro output declines
Hydropower typically supplies nearly all of Albania’s electricity, leaving the Balkan country highly exposed to rainfall fluctuations.
Western Balkans gradually gaining on EU economies, but Ukraine falls further behind
Bruegel study finds all candidates and potential candidates except Ukraine have converged somewhat towards the EU average in GDP per capita terms.
Wildfires strain emergency services in Albania
Wildfires continued to sweep across southern Albania on July 28, prompting the evacuation of several villages and mobilising hundreds of emergency workers as authorities struggled to bring dozens of blazes under control.
Serbia to repatriate entire gold reserve amid global uncertainty
Serbia’s central bank plans to repatriate the country’s entire gold reserves from abroad, becoming the first Eastern European country to hold all of its bullion domestically.
Analyst warns Kosovo risks economic and political isolation as Albania moves closer to EU
Kosovo may face a return to “hard borders” with Albania and Montenegro within the next five to seven years if current political trends continue.