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.

//a.i/u.sh/

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.

/m.m/r.e/a.f/u.sh/

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.

/m.q/j.p/sm/

The discussion focused on Albanian-German relations and the need to fully exploit their considerable potential, as well as the importance of an even stronger German engagement in the Western Balkans.

Minister Hoxha and MP Beyer discussed recent developments in Albania and the progress of the European Union accession process. In the context of strategic developments in Europe, they emphasized the importance of maintaining a credible, merit-based enlargement process.

The conversation also covered the evolving situation in the Western Balkans, with particular attention given to the recent elections in Serbia and their impact on regional stability and European integration. Minister Hoxha expressed gratitude for Beyer’s friendship toward Albania, his keen interest in the Western Balkans and his consistent commitment to the region’s European future. /e.i/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.

/gj.m/r.e/a.f/u.sh/

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.

/gj.m/r.e/a.f/u.sh/

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.

/r.e/a.f/u.sh/

Speaking at an international conference entitled “EU Enlargement: Assessing New Concepts and Outlook for 2027,” organised by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Hoxha said changing geopolitical realities had made enlargement a strategic and security imperative for Europe.

That, however, should not come at the expense of substance or standards, as the need for reforms remained unchanged, he said.

“We are not pursuing reforms simply to become European, but because we are European and because our citizens deserve institutions that meet European standards,” Hoxha said.

He stressed that Albania was not seeking preferential treatment or an accelerated path to membership.

“EU membership must be earned on merit, not granted as an act of solidarity. It is earned through reform after reform, chapter after chapter, standard after standard, by building effective, democratic and accountable institutions – institutions that Albania needs in its own right and that EU membership requires.

“Albania is doing precisely that: implementing reforms, delivering results, ensuring accountability and seeking an assessment based on merit.

“But a merit-based process must work both ways. When candidate countries deliver, Europe must respond. When reforms produce tangible results, those results must be reflected in concrete progress.

“Enlargement is not simply about expanding the European Union. It is about building a stronger, more secure Europe that is finally united in full,” Hoxha said.

/a.f/r.e/u.sh/

Rama shared footage on social media of a stone table set up outside the prime minister’s office, bearing the inscription “Dialogue”, as a sign of the government’s willingness to consider their proposals and address the concerns they have raised.

Protesters have so far rejected the prime minister’s invitation, demanding his resignation and vowing to continue their demonstrations.

Classes have resumed as normal at several public universities in Tirana, including the University of Medicine, the Polytechnic University, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of History and Philology, and the Faculty of Economics.

The decision to return to classrooms was taken by students themselves through discussions in their group chats, with some arguing that every missed class was detrimental to their education.

The protests, however, have exposed divisions among students. While some have returned to classes, ending a boycott that lasted around two weeks, others continue to stage actions aimed at disrupting teaching and mobilising fellow students to join the demonstrations.

Rama, meanwhile, has said he is ready to consider any proposals put forward by students and university staff, adding that the government is preparing a package of measures to address their concerns.

He also said the 2027 state budget included additional measures to support families, public services and students.

Separately, the government has adopted a legislative package aimed at tackling urban violence, introducing tougher penalties for those involved in violent acts.

/m.m/r.e/a.f/u.sh/

The exercise is being organised by the National Search and Rescue Centre (QKKSH), in cooperation with institutions and agencies responsible for responding to aviation emergencies, the ministry said.

Participants will include the Armed Forces, Tirana International Airport (TIA), the State Police, air navigation service provider ALBCONTROL, the National Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority (AKISA), the National Emergency Medical Centre (QKUM), the Fire and Rescue Service and the Albanian Red Cross.

The exercise will be based on a simulated scenario involving an aircraft veering off the runway and crashing outside the airport perimeter.

It aims to test emergency response procedures, inter-agency coordination and the deployment of search and rescue units in evacuating and rescuing passengers and crew members.

The Defence Ministry said residents in the area could notice increased movements of emergency vehicles during the exercise, stressing that the activity was planned and that there was no actual emergency.

The drill is intended to strengthen operational readiness, improve coordination among participating agencies and enhance national capabilities to respond to emergencies involving civil aviation.

/gj.m/r.e/a.f/u.sh/