Albania

Albania has completed six more chapters of the questionnaire required by the European Commission, the Inter-ministerial Co-ordination Committee for European Integration announced on Thursday. The chapters are on the free movement of capital, information and media society, taxes, environment, financial control, and finances and budget. That makes a total of …

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb voiced support for Albania’s visa liberalisation process with the EU during a meeting with Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta in Helsinki on Wednesday. Stubb said his country backs Tirana’s effort to progress towards European integration, but stressed that reforms should continue. Meta said the visit “marks the …

The presiding judge of the PriŠtina District Court ruled on Tuesday that the trial of Albin Kurti be postponed until April 13, EULEX said.

A NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation, led by Sergio De Gregorio, said in Tirana on Monday (March 1st) that no one in the Alliance doubts the legitimacy of the current government and parliament. NATO monitors said the June 2009 general elections were a well organised process, noted De Gregorio after meeting …

The Socialist Party’s (SP) return to parliament after a six month boycott is the first step towards normalising parliamentary work, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Mevlut Cavusoglu, said in a statement Monday (March 1st). Cavusoglu described contributions by all parties as essential, adding …

Belgium Prime Minister Yves Leterme will pay a visit to Macedonia on March 8 to discuss the issue on candidates for political asylum from the country. Most of the people in question are Albanians from Macedonia and Presevska dolina in South Serbia, which ask for political

Albanian Opposition Socialist Party (SP) leader Edi Rama said Friday that his party is again leaving parliament and threatened large public protests unless Prime Minister Sali Berisha agrees to open the ballot boxes of the June 2009 general elections.

The opposition Socialist Party (SP) announced on Wednesday (February 24th) that its members are returning to parliament Thursday after nearly six months of boycott. “This is a step we take to show that we don’t aim to prevent reforms, and give the majority a chance to resolve the political crisis,” …

A Council of Europe, CoE, delegation that intervened to solve Albania’s ongoing political crisis urged on Tuesday the country’s opposition and the government majority to end the stalemate.

A high level delegation from the Council of Europe, led by the president of the assembly, Mevlut Cavusoglu, is holding meetings with key political players in Tirana on Monday in an effort to resolve the country’s political crisis.