Albaniaโ€™s former president arrested on corruption allegations

Relations between the country’s former president and current PM have deteriorated.

Rome court rules offshore detention of migrants in Albania illegal

All 16 migrants set to be returned from Albania to Italy after their countries of origin deemed unsafe.

Albania begins EU accession talks

But it could still take decades before the country joins the bloc.

Albania-EU membership talks to kick off with corruption, checks and balances

Join host Giada Santana and senior editor Alice Taylor in unpacking the start of Albania’s EU membership negotiations.

Albania: protesters calling for resignation of PM clash with police โ€“ย video report

Albanian police fired teargas to disperse protesters who hurled petrol bombs at government buildings and smashed city property in Tirana on 7 October. Demonstrators are demanding that the government be replaced by a technocratic caretaker until next ye…

Meloni-themed restaurant opens near asylum-seeker camp in Albania

Trattoria Meloni contains 70 portraits of Italian PM and is near site where arrivals to the EU are processedA restaurant dedicated to Giorgia Meloni has opened in the vicinity of a camp in Albania where the asylum claims of people who seek to enter the…

The EU must soon open its doors to new members โ€“ its survival depends on it | Nathalie Tocci

The days when Viktor Orbรกn could block negotiations on a whim should be over โ€“ and the western Balkans should finally benefit Russiaโ€™s invasion of Ukraine has revived EU expansion as an imperative. For years, โ€œenlargementโ€ has been a low priority โ€“ Cro…

Italy-funded asylum centres in Albania to be fully operational by September

The agreement signed last year by Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama aims to process the asylum claims of migrants rescued at sea while keeping them in Albania, a move that has garnered both criticism and support.

Keir Starmer says he is open to processing asylum seekers offshore

PM wants to rethink UKโ€™s immigration policies but did not make progress on returns deal at summit with EU leadersKeir Starmer is looking into plans to process asylum seekers outside the UK as part of a rethink of the governmentโ€™s immigration policies, …

Albanian anti-government protesters hurl petrol bombs and scuffle with police โ€“ย video

Opposition protesters pelted Albania’s government buildings and the mayor’s office in the capital, Tirana, with petrol bombs, accusing state officials of involvement in organised crime and corruption after their leader was placed under house arrest. Th…

Albanian anti-government protesters hurl petrol bombs and scuffle with police

Opposition protesters pelted Albania’s government building and a mayor’s office with petrol bombs late on Thursday (11 July), accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama of corruption and demanding his resignation.

Imprisoned Greek EU lawmaker awaits new court decision

Recent election of Greek MEP imprisoned in Albania fans diplomatic flames.

Did Albaniaโ€™s prime minister call the US โ€˜one of the three evils in the worldโ€™?

A video circulating on social media claims to show Prime Minister Edi Rama labelling the US, Soviet Union and Israel as the worldโ€™s three โ€œevilsโ€.

North Macedoniaโ€™s EU aspirations face bumpy ride after elections

A new administration risks rekindling old tensions with Bulgaria and Greece โ€” which can both throw up major obstacles to Skopje.

Greek government picks EU election wild card โ€” from an Albanian jail

In Athens, many see ethnic Greek mayor-elect Fredi Beleri as a victim of political charges. In Albania, he is viewed as a more sinister figure.

Rama: Western Balkans support key for Ukraine amid Western โ€˜excusesโ€™

The Western Balkans is ready to contribute to the fight against Russia amid European and Western โ€œexcusesโ€ and โ€œconstraintsโ€ over aid, adding that EU member states need the region for its security, according to Prime Minister Edi Rama in an interview b…

Albania MPs approve deal with Italy to house migrants

Up to 36,000 people will be held in northwest Albania per year under the agreement.

They wonโ€™t get rid of me, Meloni promises at right-wing political festival

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni promises to stay until the end of the legislature as long as she has the consent of the Italians, she said at Fratelli dโ€™Italiaโ€™s annual event where many leaders, including Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, UK Prim…

Albania opposition starts fire in parliament during anti-government protest

MPs set off smoke bombs in middle of chamber in failed attempt to stop vote on 2024 budgetAlbaniaโ€™s opposition has set off smoke bombs and started a small fire in the middle of parliament in a failed attempt to stop the chamber from voting on the 2024 …

Internal cracks emerge in European Socialists ahead of 2024 elections

Divisions over the war in the Middle East, the Italy-Albania migration deal, and other political events involving Socialist leaders underlined the fragility of the European Socialist family during its congress in Mรกlaga last weekend, just seven months …

Rome-Tirana migration deal: Italian left wants Ramaโ€™s party out of EU socialists

Italyโ€™s left-wing Democratic Party has called for Albaniaโ€™s Socialist Party, led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, to be expelled from the European Socialist Party over the controversial deal he struck with conservative Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni …

Italy, Albania migration deal divides both sides of Adriatic, caution from EU

Thousands of refugees and asylum seekers rescued from the Mediterranean by Italian vessels will be sent to Albania for processing following an agreement between Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on Monday. But the decis…

Italy announces deal to build migrant centers in Albania

The plan will see up to 36,000 people per year held in northwest Albania.

Italy to create asylum seeker centres in Albania, Giorgia Meloni says

Neighbouring country would house up to 3,000 people rescued at sea by Italian boats, with some exceptions for vulnerable groupsItalyโ€™s far-right government has announced plans to create centres in Albania to accommodate asylum seekers, the prime minist…

Italy to create asylum seeker centres in Albania, Georgia Meloni says

Neighbouring country would house up to 3,000 people rescued at sea by Italian boats, with some exceptions for vulnerable groupsItalyโ€™s far-right government has announced plans to create centres in Albania to accommodate asylum seekers, the prime minist…

Hamasโ€™ gift to Vladimir Putin

Russia is relishing โ€” and partly fueling โ€” chaos in a series of global flashpoints that divert the West’s energies from Ukraine.

Shambles in Granada: Mega-gathering of European leaders ends with a whimper

49 leaders, 700 journalists, dozens of bilateral meetings … and no decisions.

EU forges plan with UK and Albania to combat people smuggling

Five-point plan seeks to tackle organised crime across Europe as well as criminals operating boatsThe EU has joined forces with the UK and Albania to extend the fight against people smugglers across the wider continent, following forceful interventions…

Zelenskyy trashes the UN for not doing enough against Russia

The Security Council meeting offers a platform to both Ukraineโ€™s president and a senior aide to Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine calls for UN Security Council overhaul as Zelenskyy and Lavrov spar in debate

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took the floor at the UN Security Council on Wednesday (20 September) to launch an appeal for its reform, in a nod to countries of the Global South he hopes to win over for Kyiv’s peace efforts.