Albania news

Foreign tourists contributed 2 billion euro ($2.23 billion) to Albania's economy during the first half of the year, up 23% compared to the first half of 2023, tourism minister Mirela Kumbaro said on Friday.

Albania's finance ministry will offer 4 billion leks ($45.16 million/40.4 million euro) worth of fixed-rate Treasury bonds at an auction on October 1, central bank data shows.

Albania has the potential to become a frontrunner among countries seeking EU membership, alongside Montenegro, the ambassador of the European Union in Albania, Silvio Gonzato, was quoted as saying by Euronews on Friday.

North Macedonia's prime minister Hristijan Mickoski said he would not accept a further delay in the country's EU membership talks, following media reports that the EU has decided to decouple North Macedonia from Albania in their accession process because of Skopje's dispute with neighbouring EU member Bulgaria over amendments to North Macedonia's constitution.