Justice or Realpolitik? Two Prime Ministers, Two Futures for the Balkans
Kosovo’s Albin Kurti and Albania’s Edi Rama have distinct and divergent approaches to governing, each with its own set of risks and rewards. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
‘Failure in Prevention’: Iran-Linked Hackers, Stolen Albanian Data and an FBI Sting
Revelations from the US about an alleged Iran-linked hacker group’s attempt to sell Albanians’ personal data have raised more questions about cyber defences in the Balkan country after a series…
In Albania, Is Tailor-Made Legislation Being Written for Tycoons?
New legal amendments allowing ‘strategic investors’ to develop port facilities at tourist resorts without competitive tenders represent the latest custom-written legislation brought in by Edi Rama’s government to benefit big…
Week in Review: Big Changes and Steep Climbs
A momentous election spells change not just for Hungary but also for much of the Western Balkans, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlights. KAYNAK: Balkan…
How Voice of America ‘Opened a Window’ in Isolated, Communist Albania
Afrim Krasniqi’s new book highlights the US radio station’s crucial role in bringing about change in Albania in 1990 – then ‘the most closed society in Europe’. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Shockwaves or Spillovers: How Will the Iran War Affect the Western Balkans?
Western Balkan leaders are taking diplomatic sides in the US-Israeli war on Iran and the region faces escalating energy prices – with the economic impact likely to be more serious…
Albanian Police Arrest Call Centre Fraudsters
Police raids targeted call centre fraud operations across Tirana, with 10 suspects arrested and almost a million euros in cash seized. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Albania’s Automotive Industry at Turning Point Amid European Slowdown
With European car demand fluctuating and margins under pressure, manufacturers of car parts in Albania are navigating a delicate shift from cost-based competitiveness to structural adaptation. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Week in Review: High Ambitions and Missed Opportunities
Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at future goals as well as lost opportunities from the past. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Growing Demand for Weapons Turns Albania into Hub for Smuggled Arms
Fed by demand for new guns and leftovers from depots looted in the 1990s, Albania has become a key hub for small-arms trafficking. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight