Albania
Albanian central bank raises policy rate to 2.25%
Supply-side shocks and heightened uncertainty in international markets are pushing up inflation in Albania.
Albania signs $6mn satellite deal to fight drugs and crime
Tirana agrees with US-based Satellogic USA Inc. to develop a dedicated satellite constellation that will enable satellite monitoring of the country’s territory.
More pain stored up for Emerging Europe in 2023
Government efforts to shield populations from the energy crisis and rampant inflation have shifted the economic impact to next year, says the EBRD as it downgrades GDP growth forecasts for 2023.
Albanians trust international organisations and religious institutions more than their politicians
More than 70% of Albanians trust the EU, the UN and Nato compared to only one quarter who trust the president or political parties.
Albania’s ex-president Meta reported to prosecutors over ‘outrageous’ spending on beauty treatments
Lawyer accuses Meta and his family of money laundering in one of a series of corruption accusations made since presidential term ended in July.
Albania’s opposition Democrats to probe allegation party received $500,000 from Russia
US State Department says Russia covertly channelled over $300mn to foreign political parties, with Albania, Bosnia and Montenegro believed to be among the countries targeted.
Southeast European governments rush to offer new anti-crisis packages
Albania and Croatia the latest to announce new measures to help their populations cope with soaring prices.
VISEGRAD BLOG: Putin’s cost of living crisis has already caused mass demonstrations in Europe, but will they get worse?
Last weekend 70,000 protesters gathered on Wenceslas Square in the heart of Prague to demonstrate against the rising cost of living and demanded a rapprochement with Russia. Will demonstrations spread across Europe as the crisis gets worse?
Albania cuts diplomatic ties with Iran over cyberattack that downed government sites
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama gave Iranian diplomats 24 hours to leave the country.
Russia blamed for wave of hacker attacks in Southeast Europe
Widespread attacks on Montenegrin state institutions and Bulgaria's opposition Gerb party follow shutdown of Albanian government services.
Corruption probe launched into Albania’s ex-president Meta
Investigation revealed one month after Meta's presidential term ended as he seeks to revitalise the opposition Freedom Party.
Romanians least likely in the EU to read news online
Across the EU 72% of EU internet users aged 16-74 read online news sites, newspapers or news magazines, but only 59% of Romanians read news online.
Albania has Europe's oldest car fleet
Albania, followed by neighbouring North Macedonia, has the oldest car fleet out of 29 countries assessed by Eurostat, with under 1% of cars on its roads less than two years old.
TikTok trending Albania heads for record summer tourist season
With holidaymakers squeezed by the rising cost of living, Albania's reputation as a budget destination has become a major selling point.
bneGREEN: Cleaning up the Western Balkans’ waste problem
Waste generation has increased sharply in recent decades, but waste management infrastructure has in general failed to keep up.
Albania steps in to help Kosovo avoid electricity rationing
Kosovo's energy companies had planned restrictions on power use as the coal-dependent country faces a crisis in the energy sector.
Population decline to take Emerging Europe back to the early 20th century
Population decline across almost all of Emerging Europe will result in the populations of many countries dropping to levels not seen since the early 20th century.
Drought damage to European grain harvest piles on top of Ukraine war impact
Extreme heat and droughts across several European countries have led to forecasts for this year’s harvests being reduced.
UK blacklists Albanian opposition leader Sali Berisha
Albanian opposition leader and former president Sali Berisha said he has been banned from entering the UK because of alleged links to criminal groups.
Firefighters battle wildfires in Southeast Europe as heatwave spreads east
The heatwave that caused havoc in Western Europe is now moving north and east, with temperatures in Southeast Europe expected to peak over the weekend.
