Tag Archives: Albania

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola urges EU leaders to align long-term funding with policy commitments

European Parliament image supplied with the press release.

Addressing the European Council in Brussels, Metsola pressed for an adequate EU budget, progress on single-market legislation, stronger global partnerships and continued support for Ukraine and enlargement. IN BRIEFKEY TAKEAWAYSFAQs European Parliament President Roberta Metsola urged EU leaders in Brussels … Read the full press release →

EU and Albania Provisionally Conclude Enterprise and Industrial Policy Chapter in Accession Talks

A speaker in a dark suit addressing a Council of the European Union press podium against a blue backdrop.

Chapter 20 becomes the fourth provisionally closed chapter, with all 33 screened chapters opened and further reforms remaining central to the accession process. IN BRIEFKEY TAKEAWAYSFAQs The EU and Albania have provisionally closed accession negotiations on enterprise and industrial policy … Read the full press release →

UEA-backed global election review identifies misinformation and security threats across 2025 votes

Illustration of several hands holding voting forms with checked boxes.

International IDEA and Electoral Integrity Project review elections in 39 countries and examine how institutions are responding to pressures on inclusion, transparency and public trust. IN BRIEFKEY TAKEAWAYSFAQs A report from International IDEA, produced with the Electoral Integrity Project and … Read the full press release →

Barclays Reports August Travel Spending Rebound as Premier Customers Gain Fee-Free Foreign Exchange Benefit

(IN BRIEF) Barclays Consumer Spend data shows overseas debit and credit card spending by UK customers increased 2.2% in the first half of 2026, with international expenditure rising from 5.0% to 5.1% of overall spend. Traditional destinations including Spain, France, … Read the full press release →

World Economic Forum and Zurich Insurance Group Launch TTDI 2026 Measuring Tourism Readiness Across 110 Economies

(IN BRIEF) The World Economic Forum and Zurich Insurance Group have released the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, assessing 110 economies across 17 pillars to measure how well their infrastructure, policies, workforce, resources and systems support resilient tourism growth. … Read the full press release →

Vodafone Uses Physical AI to Optimise Mobile Coverage Without Human Intervention

(IN BRIEF) Vodafone is trialling a mobile mast equipped with an AI brain and a robotic arm that can automatically adjust a radio antenna to improve 4G and 5G coverage. The technology analyses customer demand, weather and local conditions, then … Read the full press release →

Agentic AI Powers New 5G Network Slicing Use Cases in Vodafone Albania and Nokia Demonstration

(IN BRIEF) Vodafone Albania and Nokia have demonstrated how Agentic AI can support dynamic 5G network slicing, allowing dedicated network capacity to be created quickly during emergencies, major events or unexpected demand spikes. The demonstration combined Vodafone Albania’s 5G Standalone … Read the full press release →

Albania Advances Regional Development with EIB Global Backed Investment in Roads Water and Tourism

(IN BRIEF) EIB Global is investing over €50 million to support sustainable development in northern Albania, focusing on infrastructure improvements in Shkodër, Lezhë, and Malësi e Madhe. The project aims to upgrade roads, public transport, water systems, and urban spaces … Read the full press release →

Fincantieri Expands Mediterranean Presence with New Naval Shipbuilding Partnership in Albania

(IN BRIEF) Fincantieri and KAYO have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture aimed at developing naval shipbuilding and maintenance capabilities in Albania, marking a significant step in industrial and defense cooperation between the two countries. The new entity, … Read the full press release →

EIB Global strengthens its Albania partnership with appointment of Alessandro de Concini as new country representative

(IN BRIEF) EIB Global has appointed Alessandro de Concini as its new representative to Albania, succeeding Petia Manolova, to strengthen the country’s green, digital, and EU accession efforts. With 17 years of experience in the EIB Group and a strong … Read the full press release →

ALBANIA: Lagardère Travel Retail and Kastrati Group Open New Duty Free Store at Durrës Port to Serve Growing Passenger Flows

(IN BRIEF) Lagardère Travel Retail has opened a new 100m² duty free store at Albania’s Port of Durrës through its joint venture with Kastrati Group, further expanding its presence in the country after launching operations at Tirana International Airport. The … Read the full press release →

EBRD Launches €10 Million Initiative to Support Sustainable Growth in Albania’s SME Sector

(IN BRIEF) The EBRD has launched a €10 million financial package for Tirana Bank, including a €5 million SME Reboot loan to help Albanian SMEs invest in green technologies and a €5 million trade finance facility to expand the bank’s … Read the full press release →

OTP banka Wins Best Bank in Slovenia 2025 as OTP Group Continues International Award Streak

IN BRIEF) OTP banka has been named Best Bank in Slovenia 2025 by Euromoney, recognizing its excellence in financial performance, innovation, and sustainability. CEO András Hámori attributed the honor to the dedication of the bank’s team and the trust of … Read the full press release →

EIB Strengthens Partnership with Albania to Support Green Transition and EU Integration

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed agreements with Albania to advance the country’s green transition and EU integration. This includes implementing the Greening Financial Systems programme, which will help Albania incorporate climate risks into its financial framework … Read the full press release →

International Operation Halts Albanian-Led Cocaine Trafficking Ring with 29 Arrests Across Europe

(IN BRIEF) An international operation coordinated by Eurojust and Europol has disrupted a major Albanian-led drug trafficking network, leading to the arrest of 29 suspects across Italy and Albania. The operation, which began with investigations in 2021, uncovered cocaine concealed … Read the full press release →

Authorities Dismantle Albanian-Led Drug Ring in Italy, 66 Arrested in Eurojust-Coordinated Operation

(IN BRIEF) Authorities in Italy, Albania, Poland, and Switzerland, coordinated by Eurojust, have dismantled a major Albanian-led cocaine trafficking network. A total of 66 individuals were arrested, with 45 of them taken into custody on an action day. The criminal … Read the full press release →

EBRD Hosts Western Balkans Investment Summit, Spotlighting Regional Potential

(IN BRIEF) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) convened the Western Balkans Investment Summit 2024 in London, welcoming the heads of government from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The summit aimed to showcase … Read the full press release →

EIB Global Grants €1 Million for Tirana’s Water Distribution Improvement

(IN BRIEF) EIB Global, the European Investment Bank’s arm for activities outside the EU, has allocated a €1 million technical assistance grant to aid the Tirana municipality in enhancing its water distribution network. The grant will support a project aimed … Read the full press release →

Corporate Heroes: Businesses Rally to Support Ukraine Amidst Geopolitical Turmoil

(IN BRIEF) Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and geopolitical uncertainties, numerous companies from both Ukraine and around the world have demonstrated remarkable support by offering financial, material, and essential resources to aid the Ukrainian government and its people. This … Read the full press release →

EBRD Supports Albania’s Agribusiness and Tourism Sectors with €2 Million Loan to Union Bank

(IN BRIEF) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending a loan of up to €2 million to Union Bank to bolster financing in Albania’s agribusiness and tourism sectors, essential for the country’s economic growth. Union Bank becomes … Read the full press release →

EBRD Launches Youth in Business Programme in Albania, Aims to Empower Young Entrepreneurs for Financial Inclusion

(IN BRIEF) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is launching its Youth in Business Programme in Albania, aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs’ financial inclusion. The program will provide a €1 million loan to Union Bank for lending to … Read the full press release →

Albania’s First Onshore Wind Auction Sees Success with EBRD Support and Record Prices

(IN BRIEF) Albania has announced the results of its first utility-scale bidder-selected site auction for onshore wind, part of the country’s third renewable energy auction. Three bidders, Total Eren, Guris, and Verbund, have been awarded a total capacity of 222.48 … Read the full press release →

EBRD provides €29m loan to develop Albania’s first major solar photovoltaic plant

(IN BRIEF) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has provided a €29 million loan to a special-purpose vehicle owned by France’s Voltalia to develop the 140 MW Karavasta solar plant in Albania. The project marks Albania’s first major … Read the full press release →

Albania lanza licitación por 300MW de energía solar como parte de la subasta de energía renovable del BERD

(NOTICIA EN BREVE) El gobierno albanés, como parte del programa de Subastas de Energía Renovable del Banco Europeo para la Reconstrucción y el Desarrollo (BERD), lanzará una licitación por 300 MW de energía solar, con el objetivo de agregar al … Read the full press release →

Albania Launches Tender for 300MW Solar Power as Part of EBRD Renewable Energy Auction

(IN BRIEF) The Albanian government, as part of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) Renewable Energy Auction program, is set to launch a tender for 300 MW of solar power, with the goal of adding at least 1 … Read the full press release →

Statkraft’s Banja Floating Solar project in Albania starts generating renewable energy

(PRESS RELEASE) OLSO, 3-Jun-2021 — /EuropaWire/ — Generator of renewable energy, as well as Norway’s largest and the Nordic region’s third largest energy producer, Statkraft and Norwegian supplier Ocean Sun, announce the start of commercial operations at the first unit … Read the full press release →

EBRD supports Albania’s plans to launch its first wind power plants tender

First wind power plants tender in Albania to be launched EBRD and Swiss SECO support preparation of groundbreaking move Albania to diversify energy supply, attract investment and increase resilience to climate change (PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 29-Dec-2020 — /EuropaWire/ — European … Read the full press release →

Coface: EU accession of Western Balkans likely to happen as it would counterbalance influence of Russia and China in the region

Bois-Colombes, France, 15-May-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Union – Western Balkans Summit will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, on the 17th of May 2018. This meeting aims to reaffirm the EU’s commitment towards the Western Balkans gaining EU membership. Coface’s economists … Read the full press release →

EBRD takes part in the upgrade of Komani hydro power plant in Albania

Komani, Albania’s most important hydropower power plant, undergoes a safety makeover with EBRD funding LONDON, 30-10-2014 — /EuropaWire/ — The most important source of electricity in Albania is the Komani hydro power plant in the mountains of the Puka region. … Read the full press release →

EBRD launched new €75M Western Balkans Sustainable Energy Efficiency Facility II (WeBSEFF II) to support energy conservation in the region

London, UK, 24-10-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — The EBRD is launching the new Western Balkans Sustainable Energy Efficiency Facility II (WeBSEFF II) to support efforts towards the improved use and conservation of energy in the region. The facility is combining necessary longer-term financing … Read the full press release →

EBRD launched €75M Western Balkans Sustainable Energy Financing Facility II (WeBSEFF II)

Raiffeisen Bank BiH becomes first borrower under new facility 4-7-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is launching the €75 million Western Balkans Sustainable Energy Financing Facility II (WeBSEFF II) to improve energy supply in the … Read the full press release →

400 tons of toxic rocket fuel safely removed from Kazakhstan with the help of OSCE

SARY OZEK, KAZAKHSTAN, 1-7-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — A train carrying 410 tonnes of a toxic rocket fuel component, which had been stored in deteriorating containers, left Kazakhstan today for safe disposal at a specialized chemical plant in Dzerzhinsk, Russia as part … Read the full press release →