Albania
Changed travel patterns give the eastern Adriatic a strong summer season
There were some major changes in the source countries of travellers to the region as the continued coronavirus threat forced people to switch to different holiday destinations.
Albania to raise up to €700mn with new eurobond issue
Bond issue planned to support state budget despite strong rise in debt-to-GDP ratio since start of the pandemic.
Rooting out corruption proves a tough job in North Macedonia
The Social Democrat-led government came to power pledging a vigorous and transparent fight against corruption, but tackling entrenched corruption has not been easy.
Rising food prices drive accelerated inflation in Albania in September
Higher food and fuel prices have sparked protests in recent days, with demonstrators calling on the government to intervene.
Protests in Albania as rising food and fuel prices bite
Politicians across the Western Balkans are looking at ways to ease the burden of inflation, in particular soaring energy costs, on their populations.
Von der Leyen says EU has to deliver on enlargement
EU leaders reaffirmed their support for enlargement at summit in Slovenia, but they did not set any firm timeline.
Western Balkans falling further behind eastern EU members
Neither regional integration nor closer ties with EU have led to increased trade, investment or overall prosperity in the region, says a new report from wiiw and Bertelsmann Stiftung.
Albanians shifted spending from culture to vitamins and takeaways during 2020
Average monthly spending by Albanian households rose slightly in 2020, but there were significant changes in spending patterns prompted by the pandemic.
Threat of new EU travel restrictions looms ahead of Western Balkan summit
Ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit on October 6, a leaked EU document revealed that several EU member states are seeking to restrict visa-free travel for some nationals from the region as well as other East European countries.
BALKAN BLOG: Elusive enlargement and a reignited conflict
Despite the positive words from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, it was clear that the accession of counties from the region to the EU remains elusive and has no clear timescale.
Albania’s GDP soars 17.9% y/y in Q2 as it rebounds from spring 2020 lockdown
Albania's booming construction sector put in fastest growth in Q2.
European Commission president to push for EU negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia by year-end
Ursula von der Leyen speaks strongly in favour of progressing Albania and North Macedonia towards EU accession, but EU members are still divided on the issue.
Croatia reports dozens of state-sponsored cyber attacks in 2020
Most attacks were attempts to break into the information and communication systems of the foreign and European affairs ministry and the defence ministry.
Nato troops step up presence on Kosovo-Serbian border
Tensions have reached a 10-year high since new rules set by Pristina forced Serbian drivers to change their number plates to enter Kosovo.
Basha vs Berisha conflict divides Albania’s opposition Democrats
A very public war of words is raging between the current and former leaders of Albania’s main opposition party, the centre-right Democratic Party.
Backlash against efforts to force citizens to get vaccinated in Southeast Europe
As low vaccination rates facilitated a new wave of the pandemic, governments are barring entry to malls, night clubs and other venues to those without a coronavirus certificate.
Textiles and footwear sector left out of Albania’s export recovery
Albania's clothing and footwear sector was deeply damaged by the pandemic, and has yet to recover to pre-crisis levels.
Merkel says EU should “keep its word” in relations with accession candidates
After EU accession progress was blocked by Bulgaria, Albanian PM Edi Rama tells German chancellor Western Balkans are “held hostage” by nationalism in EU countries.
Economic performance drags down business confidence in Albania
The business confidence indicator based on an annual survey of Amcham Albania members dropped in 2020 to its lowest level since the index was launched in 2012.
Albania’s inflation accelerates again in August
Following robust GDP growth, the central bank expects inflation to return to target during 2022.
