Albania

The Kosovo Albanian president and prime minister requested from EULEX to act in mostly Serb northern Kosovo, said reports. The Albanian language daily Koha Ditore writes that they want the EU mission to “begin combating organized crime and arresting the main suspects for smuggling and other serious criminal acts”.

Italian diplomat Ettore Sequi has been appointed as head of the European Commission (EC) Delegation in Albania, succeeding Helmut Lohan, whose four-year mandate expires this month. The office of EU foreign policy chief

European Commission (EC) representatives praised Albania on Tuesday (September 14th) for meeting three additional criteria of the EU visa liberalisation process that were established in May. Albania’s Interior Minister

Kosovo authorities should launch Kosovo-Albania unification talks instead of negotiating with Belgrade, Self-Determination leader Albin Kurti said on Wednesday.

The European Commission (EC) believes that Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have made considerable progress regarding the EU visa liberalisation process. EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom said on Monday (September 13th) that the EC has evaluated a report by experts who visited Tirana and Sarajevo in July. …

The Vetevendosje (Self-determination) movement says it is opposed to any talks with Serbia and has called for the public to mobilise against them. Movement leader Albin Kurti said on Sunday (September 12th) that new

Deputy UN Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro on Wednesday (September 8th) praised Albania for its economic, social and political progress. Migiro was in Tirana, where she met with Albania’s President Bamir Topi and

Outgoing OSCE Ambassador to Albania Robert Bosch will present the annual report on Albania’s progress to the permanent council in Vienna on Thursday (September 9th). Bosch stresses in the document that judicial independence remains a challenge. Combating corruption is an area where the

The European Parliament’s (EP) foreign affairs committee adopted a draft report Monday (September 6th) that recommends lifting the EU visa regime for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The document passed

Albania’s President Bamir Topi signed a decree Monday (September 6th) setting May 8th 2011 as the date for local elections. The move came only two days before the deadline to issue the