Albania

After months of wrangling, the government and the opposition have agreed to establish a parliamentary commission to investigate the disputed 2009 general elections. The ruling Democratic Party’s Astrit Patozi and the opposition Socialist Party’s (SP) Gramoz Ruci met on Wednesday (July 14th) and agreed that the SP will lead the …

A delegation of EU experts will be arriving in Tirana soon to evaluate efforts to join the bloc’s visa-free travel regime, the European Commission office in Albania confirmed on Monday. No official schedule for the visit has been

The European Parliament will hold a debate on Albania on Wednesday, with MEPs and the EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton expected to participate. The Parliament is also expected to vote on a resolution on Albania drafted by Greek left-wing MEP Nikolaos Chountis. Speaking for Deutsche Welle radio Chountis said …

Members of parliament from the main opposition Socialist Party (SP) decided on Wednesday (June 30th) to “reconsider” their position and resume their boycott, in a bid to resolve the longstanding political stalemate. Group head Gramoz Ruci announced that SP members will not participate in the discussion of draft laws and …

Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) leader Ilir Meta on Tuesday (June 29th) urged political leaders to start strengthening electoral legislation, to ensure small parties get more representation. “Discussions need to be wide and all inclusive,” he said. Meta’s SMI only managed to win a handful of seats in parliament in …

The Kosovo Albanian, and Albanian PMs stated that they believe that the ICJ decision will work to the advantage of Kosovo. They also said it would result in new recognitions.

The European Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee adopted a pair of resolutions on Albania and Kosovo and their integration processes Wednesday (June 23rd). The one on Albania was adopted almost

Serbia is close to removing its visa regime with Albania, Deputy Foreign Minister Zdravko Ponos said on Wednesday (June 23rd) during a visit to Shkodra. Ponos met with representatives of the Serbian and Montenegrin minority in northern Albania. “One of the issues discussed with my colleagues was visas. Albania has …

Albania’s Minister of Interior Lulzim Basha declared on Monday that Albania’s Presidency of the Regional Initative for Migration, Asylum and Refugees would be dedicated to creating a Balkan Schengen system.

European Parliament (EP) officials are acknowledging that mediation aimed at resolving the political stalemate in Albania has failed. After a month of efforts, leaders of left and right wing parties in the EP, Joseph Daul and