Western Balkans
Edi Rama in London: Albania will never host migrant camps
Prime Minister Edi Rama reaffirmed from London that Albania will not accept any request to host asylum or migrant processing centers, repeating his earlier stance that “never in Albania” will...
Crisis Group: Kosovo’s rift with the West deepens amid Albin Kurti’s power centralization and crackdown on Serbs
A new report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) warns that Kosovo is straining its relations with the EU and the United States, as Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s push to...
Kosovo left out as EU disburses new Growth Plan funds to Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia
The European Commission has released the latest tranche of funding under the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, allocating new financial support to Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia —...
EU–Western Balkans Investment Forum opens in Tirana, calls for a “new horizon” of growth
For the first time, policymakers, investors, and business leaders from the Western Balkans and EU member states gathered in Tirana for the EU–Western Balkans Investment Forum, supported by the European...
Kosovo tops global population decline, Albania among top 10
Kosovo recorded the world’s sharpest population decline in 2024, with a drop of -9.7%, according to new World Bank data. North Macedonia ranked fifth globally, with a decline of 2%,...
Von der Leyen: the future of the Western Balkans is in the EU
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that the future of the Western Balkans lies in European Union membership, during her State of the Union speech at the European...
US sanctions two senior Montenegrin officials for corruption
The US State Department has designated former Budva mayor and current MP Milo Božović and the former president of Montenegro’s Supreme Court, Vesna Medenica, as ineligible to enter the United...
EU leaders give optimism on enlargement, Albania could join by 2029
European Union leaders at the Bled summit delivered optimistic messages on enlargement, with Albania and Montenegro emerging as frontrunners to become the bloc’s newest members by 2029. Why is this...
EU approves €87.7m Growth Plan package, Albania secures €32m for energy projects
The European Union has cleared a €87.7 million support tranche under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans Investment Framework. From this first financing phase, Albania will receive €32 million...
U.S. keeps 10% tariff on Albanian exports amid global trade escalation
As the wave of U.S. tariffs took effect targeting over 90 countries Albania, appears to have remained largely unaffected. Why is this important: While Serbia faces a 37% levy, North...