The draft law aims to align Albania’s rules with European Union standards and strengthen oversight of groups that include banks, insurers and investment companies.

Under the proposed rules, a group would be classified as a financial conglomerate if it includes at least one bank and one insurance or investment company and meets legally defined thresholds for activity across different financial sectors.

Such groups would face additional supervision at group level alongside oversight of their individual institutions. Regulators would focus on capital adequacy, group-wide risks, transactions between companies within the group and the way those risks are managed.

The approach is intended to prevent the same capital from being used for multiple purposes and limit the risk of financial problems at one company spreading to other entities within the group.

The draft also calls for closer cooperation between the AMF and the Bank of Albania to identify financial groups, exchange information and coordinate supervision. A designated authority would be responsible for coordinating oversight of each group.

The initiative is based on the European Union directive on the supervision of financial conglomerates and is intended to strengthen financial stability, improve transparency and enhance protection for customers and investors.

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In a statement on Friday, the network called for broad consultations with journalists and media organisations, saying restrictions on electronic devices could make it harder to report quickly and accurately, particularly on cases of high public interest.

Under the new rules, journalists are generally required to leave mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices outside the courtroom, SafeJournalists said.

The network said the restrictions warranted further discussion, particularly regarding their necessity, proportionality and the practical conditions journalists need to do their jobs effectively.

“SafeJournalists encourages the GJKKO to begin a structured dialogue with journalists and their representative organisations during this initial period of implementation and agree on an early review of the rules concerning the media after the first month,” it said.

The review should take into account the practical experience of both journalists and court staff, including accreditation procedures, the use of standard work devices and communication with the media, the network said.

The aim should be to introduce proportionate adjustments where necessary, it added.

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Minister of Internal Affairs Albana Koçiu convened today in a roundtable discussion the representatives of all the main institutions that play a key role in road safety so that to draft the legal framework.

Koçiu noted in a post in the social media that the suspension of movement with electric scooters was a necessary measure to guarantee the safety of citizens, until there is created a clear legal framework that regulates their use.

The focus of the roundtable was the drafting of new rules that will determine the technical standards of the vehicles, traffic rules and permitted areas, as well as the responsibilities of the institutions that will ensure implementation of the law.

According to Koçiu, the goal is to standardize the riding with electric scooters in a safe, organized manner and in accordance with the modern urban life of the city.

The Ministry of Interior and the State Police announced a temporary ban on the movement of electric scooters throughout the country, following increasing concerns for public safety. The decision was made after a detailed analysis by the State Police, which identified a significant increase in accidents involving these vehicles, mainly in the urban areas. /m.q/j.p/p.s./

From an observation of the streets of the capital, it is seen that many scooter users do not respect the lanes dedicated to them and often move on the sidewalk or in vehicle lanes, increasing the risk of accidents.

In an interview with the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), road safety expert Islam Qibini stated that the introduction of scooters in recent years has created significant road safety problems.

“They have created chaotic, abnormal, unsafe traffic for those who use them, drivers of other vehicles, and pedestrians due to being not aware and failure to abide by the traffic rules,” said Qibini.

In the latest amendments made to the Road Code in 2023, the electric scooters were classified into the category of bicycles and according to expert Qibini, “There is still no draft project on the use of electric scooters”.

The road safety expert suggested that, “First of all, electric scooters should be classified as vehicles according to the definitions of Article 47 of the Road Code, as they are placed between a bicycle (pedal vehicle) and a motor-scooter”.

“They must have an identification number; they must be equipped with a booklet so that it is known who the owner of the electric scooter is; the age of the scooter rider must be determined and there should be considered the possibility of a several-day course to be trained in road traffic rules”, continued Qibini.

According to the expert, “Given the statistics of their involvement in accidents with material and health damage, it is necessary to provide them with TPL, an insurance contract (policy) so that any damage they cause is covered by insurance companies”.

Qibini stressed that the scooter riders “must ride wearing a helmet, and two people should not ride on one electric scooter”.

“The Traffic Police Directorate should take the initiative to draft a project for the use of scooters, drawing on the opinions of road safety experts, the Directorate of Road Transport Service and the Road Authority”, stressed Qibini. /m.q/j.p/p.s./

Albanian government approved new amendments to the territorial development regulation on Wednesday, aimed at strengthening oversight, improving transparency, and streamlining the building permit process.

The changes include procedural improvements for rural development projects, granting local authorities the right to issue construction permits for private single-family homes.

Clear deadlines are also introduced for the payment of fees related to development permits, project modifications, deadline extensions, and usage certificates. Requests will be automatically rejected if payments are not made within 15 days of notification.

The updated regulation prohibits the issuance of building permits for privately owned land designated for public spaces. It also imposes restrictions on fencing and other barriers that obstruct access to such areas.

Housing projects in rural areas now require approval from the National Territorial Planning Agency and the Territorial Development Agency. The e-Leje platform will ensure transparent transfers of permits between developers.

The government said the measures are designed to curb illegal construction, improve planning discipline, and streamline procedures for legitimate investors. The rules enter into force after publication in the Official Gazette.

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In a social media message, the Football Federation urged fans to obey strict conduct and security rules as Albania will take on Serbia in 2026 World Cup group stage qualifier this evening.

According to the message, fans must carry valid identification documents, and their personalized ticket throughout the game.  The Federation said have every individual will undergo strict entry controls, while pyrotechnics, weapons, and banners with racist or offensive language are banned.

Movement between stadium sections will be restricted and monitored by stewards. The Federation reminded fans that carrying firearms, using fake tickets, hateful slogans or bringing banned items, could lead to fines or jail time.

Security surveillance cameras will monitor every fan leading to immediate detection and prevention of any inappropriate actions.

Albanian capital has been decked with red and black flags and symbols ahead of the game. Stadium gates at Air Albania open at 6 pm, with kickoff at 8:45 pm.

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Customs Administration urged Albanian exporters to communicate with their partners in EU member states and implement the New Import Control System (ICS2) ahead of the planed change, so that they can avoid obstacles related to the passage of goods exported to or through the EU.

The European Union’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is an advance cargo information system designed to improve security in the international transportation of goods and involved supply chain.

Under ICS2, all goods entering the EU from third countries, including Albanian goods, must be declared to border customs authorities to assess potential risks. Carriers must provide data to create an entry summary declaration (ENS) before goods arrive at the Union’s external borders. ICS2 represents a major transformation in customs risk management practices, aiming to facilitate legitimate trade while ensuring supply chain security.

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According to the CEC, “The public institutions have to report their activities during the period of 4 months before the election date until the election day”.

The public institutions and state administration are subject to this decision.

“Reporting on a certain public activity must be done no later than 5 days before the planned date for holding of the activity”, the CEC draft decision read.

“The CEC reviews the reports of institutions as a rule no later than 3 days from their reporting. If CEC finds that the public activity is prohibited by law, it orders the prohibition of the public activity”, the CEC draft decision read.

“And for the public activities “Prohibited by the CEC”, the State Election Commissioner notifies the Audiovisual Media Authority. The “activities” prohibited by the State Election Commissioner shall not be allowed to be covered by news or campaign broadcasts on radio and television,” the draft decision read. /p.s./

The unmanned aerial vehicles Bayraktar drones, which have been provided to Albania’s Air Forces in April this year, will also help authorities in a number of areas, including monitoring the country’s territory for environmental protection, water management and the fight against illegal construction activities.

The decision defines the rules of cooperation between the Armed Forces and the relevant institutions, including the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy; the Ministry of Interior and subordinate institutions; the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Ministry of Tourism and Environment; National Civil Defense Agency; Water Resources Management Agency; State Authority for Geospatial Information; Security and Defense Innovation Center.

The decision stipulates that the unmanned aerial vehicles and systems will be carried out in any case by qualified and certified Air Force personnel or other Armed Forces structures.

Film images, photographs and other data obtained from the system of unmanned aerial vehicles are displayed in a dedicated command-control space at one of the locations of the Armed Forces, respecting the rules of classified information and the use of personal data.

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Basha reiterated DP requests for the new electoral reform.

“Our requests and position regarding the electoral reform have been already institutionalized. Guaranteeing free and fair elections would definitely call for much more than the rules of game, yet without rules we stand no chance of having an cleared path towards an electoral system to allow citizens to elect their representatives in parliament instead of the party leaders,” Basha told his party supporters.

He said that DP has tabled proposal for open candidate lists, electronic voting and ballot counting, and the Diaspora vote in elections.

Basha also reiterated his party’s support for the Special Anti-Corruption and Anti-Crime Prosecution Office (SPAK) and the efforts to put an end to impunity in Albania.

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