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Europe Decoded

Watch: Airbase in Albania's former 'Stalin' town to be used by NATO

The base bad been used to store rusting Soviet and Chinese jets since the collapse of the USSR. It will soon host state-of-the-art NATO fighter jets.

Albania

Albania's communist-era airbase gets NATO makeover

The airbase is located 85 kilometres away from the capital Tirana in Kuçova, which used to be called Stalin City during Albania's communist era.

Albania

Albania could push for solo EU membership bid, says PM Edi Rama

Joint accession talks involving Albania and North Macedonia have been vetoed by Bulgaria.

Albania

NATO to open Balkan airbase in member state Albania

Renovatory work on the Kuçovë base began in January, as military spending in much of Europe has been rising.

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Albania

Tirana renames Russian embassy street 'Free Ukraine'

The decision was unanimously approved by municipal councillors in Tirana.

Albania

Constitutional court overturns impeachment of Albania's president

The court said the evidence against Meta did not amount to “a grave violation of the constitution.”

Albania

Court set to rule on the impeachment of Albania's president Ilir Meta

To impeach or not to impeach? Court set to decide president's fate.

Albania

Protesters clash with police outside Albania's opposition headquarters

Hundreds of protesters stormed the headquarters of Albania's main opposition party amid an internal battle over the party's leadership.

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Clashes as protesters enter Albania opposition HQ in Tirana

Albanian police intervened on Saturday to move away hundreds of protesters who broke into the Tirana headquarters of the country’s main opposition party in an internal squabble over the party's leadership.

World News

Macedonian census shows Western Balkans is depopulating fast

With EU membership hopes all but quashed, the countries of the European region are undergoing a serious population crisis, as the young and educated leave in droves.

Albania

Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia hold talks at Open Balkan Summit

Leaders from Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia met in Tirana to discuss and agree on furthering their Open Balkan initiative to promote political and economic ties.

Culture news

Evacuated Afghan artists paint mural to say 'Thank you, Albania!'

Albania has sheltered some 2,400 Afghan evacuees in hotels or tourist resorts. Some 150 of them have already left for other countries.

Albania

Albania's ex-top prosecutor arrested in Italy on corruption charges

Adriatik Llalla was found guilty of hiding money involved in illegally owned properties.

Albania

Former Albania minister charged over deadly 2008 munitions explosion

Fatmir Mediu has been charged with abuse of power over the blast at a munitions disposal factory in 2008 that killed 26 people.

Albania

Albania cracks down on migrant arrivals via new Balkan route to the EU

Police data show Albania has seen a rise in arrests for illegal entry this year, as numbers of migrants trying to reach Albania have skyrocketed.

Albania

Albanian court reopens case against ex-minister over fatal blast

Fatmir Mediu has denied any wrongdoing related to the 2008 deadly explosion at a munitions factory in Gerdec, which killed 26 people.

Albania

Women dominate top table in Albania’s new government

Twelve of the 17 cabinet members are women, the most in Albania's history, according to PM Edi Rama.

Albania

Brussels must not invent new conditions for EU membership, says Merkel

The comments came as Merkel was in the Western Balkans meeting heads of government from Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.

World News

Western Balkans cautious amid surge of COVID-19 infections

In southwestern Serbia, some school classes will be held online due to the high numbers of new coronavirus cases.

My Europe Series

As EU membership stalls, Balkan nations create their own mini-Schengen

From 2023 no one will stop you from Belgrade to Tirana, said Serbia's president, talking about plans for a "mini-Schengen" zone in the Balkans.