Why is this important: The case adds to growing concerns over food safety standards in Albanian agricultural exports. Just days earlier, Croatia and Bosnia blocked shipments of Albanian peaches and tomatoes for the same reason.

Why is this important: The declaration follows a heated exchange between Rama and Farage earlier this summer over the number of Albanians imprisoned in the UK. Farage has made deportations and stopping migrant boat crossings central to his party’s political agenda.

Why is this important: The Çopja clan’s trajectory illustrates how Albanian organized crime grew from local gangs in Albania or among the Albanian diaspora communities to a European-level powerhouse in cocaine trafficking, money laundering, and contract killings. Its dismantling required years of cooperation between Albanian police and law enforcement agencies in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. The clan’s rise and fall, as detailed by Le Soir, underscores both the global reach of Albanian mafia structures and the risks posed if such networks are left unchecked.

Why is this important: The opposition’s move delays President Bajram Begaj from setting a date for the first session of the new parliament.

Why is this important: In the past ten months, Albania has opened five negotiation clusters and is expected to open the final one in mid-September. Clear timelines from Brussels signal the strongest momentum yet for Western Balkan accession.