Speaking at a meeting of the Friends of the Western Balkans group in Rome, hosted by Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Hoxha said enlargement was vital not only for the Western Balkans but also for Europe’s long-term security, stability and geopolitical credibility.

“At a moment when Europe faces profound geopolitical challenges, enlargement remains one of the European Union’s most successful strategic investments in peace, stability, security, and prosperity,” Hoxha said in a post on X.

Addressing foreign ministers from the Western Balkans, Hoxha stressed that the credibility of the enlargement process must be preserved through a firm merit-based approach, with candidate countries delivering reforms while the EU recognises and rewards progress.

He reaffirmed Albania’s goal of completing EU accession negotiations by 2027 and securing membership before the end of the decade.

“The current window of opportunity is historic,” Hoxha said, adding that Albania would continue implementing the reforms needed to achieve its strategic objective of joining the EU.

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The event is hosted by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans (OSF–WB).

The press release of the event reads that the dialogue served as a platform for in-depth discussions on the challenges of the negotiation process, with a particular focus on the areas of the rule of law.

Minister Pirdeni emphasized Albania’s continued commitment to maintaining the pace of the negotiation process and to remaining faithful to the commitment to conclude the negotiations at a technical level by 2027. /e.i/r.e/a.f/p.s./

The forum is entitled “Bridging Destinations” and is promoted by the Ministry of Tourism and ENIT (Italian National Tourism Agency).

On the sidelines of the forum, Minister Kumbaro met in Rome her Italian counterpart Daniela Santachè, along with colleagues from Croatia, Greece, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Bulgaria. The forum aims to establish a new tourism cooperation platform.

The official proceedings of the event were opened today at the St. Regis Hotel by Minister Santachè.

“The participation of the Vice-President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani is a strong signal of the attention that the Italian executive reserves to tourism not only as an economic engine, but also as a social, cultural lever, of relations and dialogue between peoples”, stated earlier the Italian Minister of Tourism.

The forum is appreciated as an important opportunity for international discussion on the role of tourism as a common development tool between Italy and the Balkan countries, to promote opportunities for cooperation and growth, with the involvement of all institutional actors and the private sector. /j.p/p.s./

Rama was welcomed at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who will also open the event.

The gathering will include world leaders, senior EU and G7 representatives, international organizations, financial institutions, and private sector stakeholders to coordinate concrete aid and strategic investments in Ukraine’s key sectors.

Speakers at the conference include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska.

This edition in Rome follows previous Ukraine recovery conferences held in Lugano (2022), London (2023), and Berlin (2024). The conference’s primary goal is to mobilize political, financial, and technical support for Ukraine, focusing on attracting private investment, strengthening human capital, rebuilding communities and regions, and advancing reforms for European integration.

More than 3,500 participants are expected, including around 100 official delegations, 40 international organizations, 2,000 companies (about 500 Italian companies), and hundreds of local authorities and civil society representatives.

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“No Man is an Island” is an exhibition that invites people to reflect on humanity, shared responsibility and the experiences that bring us closer, through a visual narrative about travel and the transformative power it carries.

The title comes from a poem of English poet John Donne, which remind us that no individual is isolated, but rather an integral part of the broader human collective.

Painter Adrian Paci builds a narrative where travel becomes a space for reflection on belonging, interconnectedness and the challenges of our times.

Attending the inauguration event was Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation Lira Pipa, Ambassador of Albania to Italy Anila Bitri as well as Ambassador to the Holy See Majlinda Frangaj.

Adrian Paci was born in 1969, in Shkodra. He studied painting at the Academy of Arts in Tirana. In 1997, he settled in Milan. During his career, Adrian Paci has opened many solo exhibitions in various international institutions such as: Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal (2014); Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea – PAC, Milan (2014); Jeu de Paume, Paris (2013); National Gallery of Kosovo, Prishtina (2012); Kunsthaus Zurich, Zurich (2010); Bloomberg Space, London (2010); The Center for Contemporary Art – CCA, Tel-Aviv (2009); Museum am Ostwall, Dortmund (2007); MoMA PS1, New York (2006) and Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston (2005).

His works of art are in several private and public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum, New York; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Israel Museum, Jerusalem; MAXXI, Rome; Fundacio Caixa, Barcelona; Moderna Museet, Stockholm; Kunsthaus Zürich, Zurich; UBS Art Collection, London; Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami, United States; New York Public Library, New York; Solomon Guggenheim Foundation, New York; Seattle Art Museum, Seattle. /e.r//a.f/p.s./

The event attracts a large number of local residents, tourists and art lovers, who explore museums and cultural late into the night, often with special activities, performances, and reduced admission price of one euro.

Albania was proudly represented at this European celebration of culture through an evening carefully curated by the Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Italy. The event took place in Sala Santa Rita – one of the most iconic spaces of the Italian capital.  The program that featured images of the Marubi archive  – recently inscribed by UNESCO on its Memory of the World International Register – revealed the Albanian history of photography to the Italian and international public.

Attendees had the opportunity to watch a documentary on the Marubi archive, the story of a unique Albanian photographic heritage, and also to experience a musical interlude by soprano Ana Lushi and pianist Kozeta Prifti, inspired by the city of Shkoder.

For the first time, images from the Marubi Museum are being exhibited during one of Rome’s most magical nights. As part of Notte dei Musei 2025, the museums in the Italian capital will stay open until the early hours of the morning, and Marubi will be part of this international celebration of art, history, and photography.

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Addressing a meeting with Albanian citizens living and working in Italy, Berisha called on expats to vote for the main opposition party, saying Albania would cease existing if Prime Minister Edi Rama wins a fourth consecutive term in office.

Berisha accused Rama’s government of failing Albanians, promising lower taxes, higher wages, and better pensions if his party wins.

“We face existential threats. Every Albanian should know that a fourth mandate for Edi Rama, who expelled 1.99 million Albanians in the last 10 years, or 45% of the entire population to the EU member states alone, means that Albania would cease existing. Albania would become the land of criminals, gangs and traffickers,” he stated.

Berisha said that “every Albanian patriot should stand up against this prime minister, who is destroying our nation.”

He described left-wing extremism as a threat to Albania, saying that efforts were made to eliminate political opposition in the country.

“They made efforts for an Albania without opposition. However, we knew that Albania would no longer exist without a political opposition. That’s why we didn’t give up,” Berisha stated, voicing confidence that the main opposition will win May 11 general elections.

He pledged zero tax policy for every Albanian expats wishing to return back home, saying they would become shareholders in the country’s transformation and development.

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While taking the floor at the event in Rome, PM Rama said that this is like a fairy tale which has become a reality, reminding that 30 years ago, the Albanians under communism could listen to this activity only on the radio.

“It is a privilege to be here, a special occasion when Italy and Albania join once again following a rather difficult agreement with President of RCS MediaGroup Urbano Cairo for quite a unique experience.

PM Rama said that the sporting events in Italy used to be an inspiration for Albania during the dictatorship.

“I say, in this hall, I am the only one who knows how to ride only a bicycle and I don’t know how to ride any other vehicle. So, I am 100% Green. And Italian sport has had a great influence on us, as a signal of a life beyond our borders,” said Rama.

“Albania was like North Korea of ​​Europe. The sea was empty, there was nothing moving on it and the only way to connect with the other world was Italian radio or television. Unfortunately, television could not be watched, except during the summer in Durrës and Vlora, while radio could be listened everywhere. I remember watching the “Giro D’italia”, it was Felice Gimondi and we were cheering without knowing what was going on”, said Rama further on.

“It was a different time and there was hope that maybe one day we could go to the other side. And there was really another side. Basketball, football and all Italian sport showed us that on the other side of the sea there was life and it was another life,” said PM Rama.

“And today, to see Albania involved in all this, is like a fairy tale. I have experienced this myself, as I am talking about 30 years ago, not a century ago. I am very honored and grateful. I want to thank a person who is present here, who has been there since day one, Francesco Lollobrigida for taking the first step. When he came to Albania, the first thing he asked for was a bicycle”, said Rama.

“Giro D’italia” is one of the largest annual sports events which is broadcast by 200 televisions around the world and which will contribute to the promotion of Albania, thus further promoting tourism and the country’s economic development.

The first three stages of the ‘Giro D’Italia’ in Albania will take place from May 9-11, 2025. /a.f/p.s./

After receiving the honour, Mayor Erion Veliaj said that the award was recognition of the entire Tirana Municipality team to build a city that provides high standards for kids in kindergarten and schools.

“Tirana was awarded the innovation prize for local governance. It is delightful to receive the honour as it rewards the efforts of our entire municipal staff, as well as Tirana citizens, to turn the Albanian capital into a success story, to build a city of solidarity that keeps pace of demographic growth and makes sure it introduces innovation and technology to the services for children in nursing houses, kindergartens and new schools we have constructed. I am really proud for all these achievements,” Veliaj said.

Mayor Veliaj noted that Tirana is about to kick off preparations as Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue in 2025, to demonstrate again that the city is the most beautiful postcard of modern and  European Albania.

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The Albanian athlete ranked eighth in Round One Heat One after covering the distance with a time of 9:35.77.

She reached the qualifying rate for this championship in August of last year in Brussels, where she also broke the national record of the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:09.64.

Round One was won by the Romanian Stella Rutto with a time of 9:30.00, who overcame the Germans Lea Meyer (9:30.63) and Krause (9:31.52) in the last meters.

The final race is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

The 26th European Athletics Championships will be held from 7 to 12 June 2024 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy.

Albania competes in this championship with two athletes, Luiza Gega in 3,000m steeplechase and Izmir Smajlaj in long jump./p.s./