Kos was speaking at a meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, where she presented the European Union’s 2026 Enlargement Package.

The European Commission adopted its annual Enlargement Package on Wednesday, assessing progress made over the past year by candidate countries seeking EU membership and setting out reform priorities for the period ahead.

The Commission described enlargement as one of the EU’s most important policies for ensuring peace, stability and prosperity across the continent, adding that a credible, merit-based process was increasingly becoming an investment in Europe’s collective security.

This year’s package shows that sustained reform efforts can deliver tangible progress towards EU membership, as demonstrated by Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine.

All four countries have advanced in their accession negotiations, opening negotiating clusters and provisionally closing chapters at an unprecedented pace, according to the Commission.

“Albania’s delivery on EU reforms is a sign of its commitment to EU accession. Progress has been made in implementing key reforms,” Kos said.

“This year, a major milestone was reached with the fulfilment of the interim benchmarks on the fundamentals. Since then, Albania has provisionally closed four chapters and is working to meet the closing benchmarks for additional chapters,” she added

“At the same time, continued focus and progress are needed in key areas. This is important for Albania to meet its ambitious but achievable target of closing accession negotiations by the end of 2027,” Commissioner Kos said.

“At the heart of every reform effort must be the rule of law, an independent judiciary, media freedom and the protection of fundamental rights. Progress on environmental issues should also be a priority,” she added.

“This matters not only for EU membership, but also for Albanian society and its citizens’ everyday lives. Meaningful involvement of the whole of society is essential to ensuring a robust legislative process,” Kos concluded.

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Rama called the assessment another source of pride for Albania’s European aspirations and a further step towards its historic goal of EU membership.

“Another significant and encouraging report card from the European Commission. Another step forward towards our historic goal of joining Europe,” Rama said.

He acknowledged, however, that considerable work remained, while the tight timetable for accession negotiations left increasingly little time.

The assessment, he added, did not diminish the importance of the country’s ongoing domestic challenges, which he said remained a priority for himself, the government and the parliamentary majority.

“On the contrary, today’s positive assessment motivates us to do even more and do things even better,” Rama said.

He described the current moment as an optimal opportunity for Albania’s European integration.

“The EU’s door is open, and the prospect of joining is more realistic than ever. History would never forgive us if we allowed ourselves to drown in the dirty waters of divisions, resentment and jealousy that have repeatedly prevented Albania from reaching its full potential. Keep your heads high and move forward, Albania,” the prime minister said.

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In his remarks, Berisha addressed the so-called “flamingo” protest, claiming that a “Macbethian” group sought to weaken the opposition and create a political alternative serving Prime Minister Edi Rama.

He said the protest’s original purpose had been derailed through the slogan “Rama in prison, Berisha in prison”, with the aim of replacing the genuine opposition with a political force that would serve the government’s interests.

“With this slogan, these traitors, acting on behalf of Edi Rama and others, believed they could carry out the Serbian scenario of replacing the genuine opposition – a political force that had stood firm through the most challenging circumstances and endured an unprecedented ordeal in European history. They wanted to sideline a political force committed to defending the principles of free people,” Berisha said.

“They sought to consign it to oblivion and turn a protest unprecedented in Albania, both in its scale and nature, into a destructive movement. Those who ‘strangled the flamingo’, he said, deserved to be labelled, in social and psychological terms, as the most barbaric killers,” Berisha said.

He added that the Democratic Party had decided to actively join the protest, regardless of the slogans chanted by some participants.

Berisha also revisited the history of the Democratic Party, recalling the events of 1997.

Berisha said the Democratic Party had overcome major political challenges, including the 1997 crisis, and emerged stronger despite what he described as unjust international isolation, becoming one of the most respected and resilient opposition forces internationally.

“What were we doing there? We were seeking nothing more than to stand not merely as the opposition to the government, but as the opposition representing Albanian citizens. Today, we are among the most respected opposition forces in the world – stronger and more resilient than ever,” he said.

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TIRANA, Nov 4 /ATA/ Albania is expected to take a significant step towards modernising its payment infrastructure through the regional TIPS Clone project, which will enable real-time fund transfers, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In his address at the 8th International Conference on Regional Card Schemes and Retail Financial Market Infrastructures in Tirana, Governor of the Bank of Albania, Gent Sejko, highlighted the country’s progress in modernising its payment systems and strengthening financial integration with the European Union.

Sejko said that Albania’s participation in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and the implementation of the TIPS Clone instant payments project were major milestones in the transformation of the country’s financial infrastructure. He noted that SEPA membership had reduced the cost of euro transfers to participating countries by up to 20 times, generating estimated annual savings of more than €71 million for the Albanian economy.

He also highlighted the growth in digital payments, which have increased from five to 29 transactions per capita annually over the past decade, while the number of cards in circulation has reached 1.6 million. For the first time in 2025, cards were used more frequently for purchases than for cash withdrawals.

Regarding instant payments, Sejko said the TIPS Clone project would enable real-time fund transfers around the clock, seven days a week, improving access to funds for citizens and liquidity management for businesses. A joint study by the World Bank and the Bank of Albania estimates that wider use of electronic payments could generate annual savings of up to ALL 38.7 billion, equivalent to approximately 1.5% of GDP.

The Governor also stressed the importance of promoting competition, financial inclusion, consumer protection and affordable payment services, particularly for small businesses. He underlined that digital payments, electronic invoicing and the wider use of POS terminals would help reduce reliance on cash, increase economic transparency and support the formalisation of economic activity.

Concluding, Sejko said that Albania’s payment system reforms and alignment with European standards were strengthening the country’s financial integration with the EU and bringing it closer to participation in the European Single Market ahead of EU accession.

Sejko stressed that the modernisation of payment systems must go hand in hand with stronger operational resilience, highlighting the need to protect against cyber threats, service disruptions and technology-related risks. He underlined the importance of ensuring service continuity, data protection and fraud prevention, while promoting financial inclusion through financial education and accessible digital services, particularly for people with limited digital skills.

He also called for closer cooperation between public authorities, financial institutions and international partners to turn infrastructure investments and regulatory reforms into wider adoption and tangible benefits, reaffirming the Bank of Albania’s commitment to developing a more efficient, inclusive and resilient payments ecosystem.

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During his presentation, Rusi outlined the budgetary requirements for the judicial system for 2027, noting that the draft law “On 2027 Budget” allocates 37% less funding than what the High Judicial Council had requested.

He emphasized the urgent need to approve 199 additional staff positions across the entire judicial system, along with the corresponding funding for personnel expenditures, providing the necessary justifications for this request. Furthermore, Rusi requested continued funding for the salaries of 90 full-time, fixed-term employees—hired during 2026—whose employment will extend for an additional two years.

Rusi emphasized the necessity of securing additional funding—beyond what is currently allocated in the draft budget—to cover expenses related to court security services, rental costs for two appeal’s courts, and the increased fees for postal and security services.

Additionally, Rusi highlighted the importance of increasing funds for capital investments, specifically for renovations and the procurement of security and computer equipment for courts at all three levels.

In conclusion, the Committee on Legal Affairs, Public Administration and Human Rights requested that the rapporteur MP Aulona Bylykbashi, in coordination with representatives from the High Judicial Council and the Ministry of Finance, hold discussions to identify the HJC’s priority funding requirements—to be incorporated into the draft law “On 2027 Budget.” /j.p/p.s./

Speaking at Albania’s National Cybersecurity Conference, Ambassador Eric Wendt highlighted Albania’s progress in building digital resilience and training future experts through partnership with the United States, including programs like CyberNext.

The U.S. Embassy said the cooperation was aimed at building stronger and more secure digital infrastructure for Albania, the United States and NATO.

“Together, we are securing a stronger digital infrastructure for Albania, the United States, and NATO,” the embassy said.

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While appearing before the Committee on Economy, Employment and Finance, Malaj addressed questions from members of the Parliament regarding the fiscal package and assured that there would be enhanced monitoring of food product prices.

He emphasized that technology is also being utilized to track prices—from the producer and importer through to the retail market—to ensure that the VAT reduction is properly reflected in the final prices.

“The increase in the standard VAT rate is intended to offset the VAT reduction we are implementing for essential food items, though it does not cover the full amount. Raising the standard VAT to 21% will generate 10.6 billion lekë for the budget, while the reduction in VAT on food products represents a loss of 12.8 billion lekë,” Malaj said.

Further on, Malaj noted that the government is preparing amendments to the law on local taxes to introduce an additional tax on vacant apartments in Tirana. The measure is expected to affect approximately 40,000 properties and aims to curb informality in the rental market.

“We will also introduce a tax on vacant apartments within the law on local taxes; owners will be required to either declare the property as being used for short-term rentals or declare it as vacant and pay the property tax. We are currently working on several mechanisms,” said Malaj.

To identify undeclared income, the Ministry of Finance is also working to obtain data from platforms such as Airbnb and Booking, as well as to secure the automatic receipt of information from the banks.

“We will request automatic information from the banks regarding income received from these platforms—and beyond, including from Instagram, Facebook, etc. Once we receive this data from the banks, we will be able to cross-reference the income earned by these individuals,” Malaj stated.

While the Democratic Party (DP) raised concerns that sports betting remains informal and fails to generate revenue for the state budget, Malaj noted that the launch of online betting will await a further revision of the law, intended to strengthen oversight and prevent social issues. /m.m/r.e/a.f/p.s./

A construction site, a theatre performance, a hydroelectric power plant under construction or the first editions of a folk festival – decades later, such images continue to tell stories of events, places and social change, above all capturing the lives of the people behind them.

Against this backdrop, the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) is taking part in the 32nd Tirana International Fair, organised by Klik Ekspo Group, with a photography exhibition entitled “32 Images, 32 Stories – An Albania in Transformation.”

The exhibition offers visitors a selection of photographs from ATA’s extensive archival collection.

More than a photographic selection, “32 Images, 32 Stories – An Albania in Transformation” offers a journey through time, documenting different stages in Albania’s economic, social and cultural development.

Each photograph bears witness to the work carried out over the decades and offers an opportunity to revisit events, places and moments that have shaped the country’s history.

Among the images documenting milestones in Albania’s past is the installation of the first turbine at the Vau i Dejës hydroelectric power plant in Shkodra, northern Albania, in April 1971. Other photographs capture the introduction of electricity to rural communities for the first time, marking a significant turning point in their daily lives.

The collection also revisits the draining of the Maliq marsh in 1946, oil extraction in Kuçova in 1947, the copper mine in Rubik and a steam-heated greenhouse in Vlora.

Together, these images document the efforts and transformations that shaped a country undergoing development.

But the story of Albania is also told through its culture, art and traditions.

The exhibition captures the construction of the Palace of Culture, the staging of the opera “Rusalka”, the country’s first operatic production, lessons at the Artistic Lyceum and a performance of the 1976 theatrical production “Zonja nga qyteti” (The Lady from the City).

Traditional costumes, landscapes across Albania and scenes from the National Folk Festivals in Gjirokastra further enrich the collection, offering visitors a glimpse into the country’s cultural identity and heritage.

For one generation, these photographs may evoke nostalgia, while younger visitors will discover images of a time they never experienced.

Behind every photograph is also the work of ATA’s photographers and journalists, who documented the events and personalities of their time, building an archival legacy that has endured to the present day.

At a fair that brings together people, businesses and ideas, ATA’s exhibition highlights the importance of preserving collective memory and documenting history through 32 authentic photographs. The exhibition will remain open to the public at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana until November 6.

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Presenting the draft budget to parliament’s Committee on Internal Affairs and Defence, Demo said the allocation was the highest level of funding for the ministry to date and would support public security, professional standards and better services for citizens.

The budget focuses on three priorities: investment in police personnel and other security staff, modernisation of the State Police through technology, equipment and infrastructure, and strengthening local government capacity to improve public services.

A total of 3.3 billion leks has been earmarked for police pay increases. The 8,174 officers holding the rank of inspector, representing 73% of ranked police personnel, will receive an additional 20,000 leks per month in rank-based pay. Including seniority-related increases, their average monthly pay rise will reach 23,600 leks, or 27%.

Officers in other ranks will receive an additional 15,000 leks per month in rank-based pay, with average increases ranging from 8% to 17%, including seniority.

Demo described the increases as a direct investment in personnel who face risks, crime and emergencies in carrying out their public duties.

He said a more professional, motivated and accountable police force required not only modern equipment and technology but also better recognition and treatment of its officers.

However, increased financial support must go hand in hand with higher professional standards, discipline, integrity and respect for the law, he said.

Support for police personnel and accountability for their actions must go together, Demo added, saying citizens were entitled both to security and to professional service that respected their rights.

The 2027 draft budget aims to translate higher funding into greater public security, stronger institutional capacity and improved public services.

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Opening the committee meeting, Tabaku said the hearing was needed to examine what she described as serious human rights violations over the past three weeks.

“Some 1,000 young people have been detained and 250 taken to police stations, including minors. Sixty journalists have also faced attacks, threats, intimidation and verbal abuse by police. We cannot act as though nothing has happened. This committee has a duty to address human rights issues,” she said.

Tabaku described the government’s normative act on public gatherings as unconstitutional, saying the main opposition Democratic Party would take the case to the Constitutional Court.

She also alleged that citizens were being stopped by unidentified individuals in unmarked vehicles and fined for taking part in protests.

“What kind of country imposes fines for exercising the constitutional right to protest? I know of no functioning democracy where citizens are prosecuted for taking part in demonstrations,” she said.

Tabaku warned that constitutional rights were under serious pressure, also criticising proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, which she said undermined justice reform and restricted the right to information.

“Human rights must remain at the top of the agenda. Neither parliament nor this committee can afford to overlook these issues,” she said, accusing the government of pursuing a series of unconstitutional initiatives.

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