Albania
Skopje’s ‘Albanian neighbourhood’ in Old Bazaar, Çarshia
There are essential traces of the history of Albanians and Macedonians, evidence of survival and revival after the Balkan or world wars. Skopje’s ‘Albanian neighbourhood’ is in a corner where the çarshia (bazaar) lies below the citadel, says Anisa Ymeri
albania, cities, immigration, community, shopping, orient express, traditions
Going bananas for Tirana
In 2010 a group of Albanian politicians organised a hunger strike in protest at the electoral problems of the year before. In January 2011 the police killed three protesters in front of parliament. This year marks the return of citizens riled at the irregularities at the foundation of local elections in June. In Tirana everything revolves around politics, but some are able to rise above the stench of disappointment. Between architects, artists, journalists and students, a new generation is trying to revive a young Balkan capital. Read the articles from our Bosnian-Serbian-Spanish-French team who report from Albania in the framework of our special edition, Orient Express Reporter (Image: (cc) davduf/ Flickr)
Headscarfs and gags: Visa liberalisation view from Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina is queuing for new freedom; as of 15 December, the European Union will have liberalised the visa situation so that citizens can travel to the 25 countries of the Schengen. But contrary to the EU's expectations, not everyone is jumping for joy with the news
albania, visa, headscarf, youth, sarajevo, freedom of movement, eu frontiers
Visa liberalisation: cripes! Are Bosnians going to swamp EU?
The news comes mid-afternoon on 8 November: the EU’s given the green light for Bosnia and Albania to travel in the 25 countries of the Schengen zone without a visa from mid-December! It has brought a smile back on a number of Bosnian faces who have tired of queuing in front of the embassies
albania, visa, schengen, european union, freedom of movement, eu frontiers, schengen zone
Communism perspectives: 'discontinuous history of art in eastern Europe'
3 October marked twenty years after the fall of the communist regime. One exhibition in Paris this summer asked the central question: is there any value in the question of 'east-west’ opposition today?
albania, exposition, paris, communism, poland, culture, photography
Greece's crisis, a modern myth
At first sight, it all looks business as usual - Athenian terraces are packed by day and its lounge bars are heaving by night. But members of the European media should get themselves to Athens. The devil is in the detail: you only see that when you're forced to get off the metro mid-way through a journey because of a spontaneous strike, or when you see anarchist graffiti all over the walls of the district of Exarchia. When five cafebabel.com journalists headed to the Greek capital on an editorial mission in early July, they discovered that the blown-up version of the crisis is as mythical as the Trojan war. Read our perception of the symptoms of the crisis, which are also its remedies: Greek-German tensions, a generation of well-qualified but underpaid graduates in images, as well as the development of the country's solar energy sector and the successful integration of an Albanian community. Final special edition of cafebabel.com's 'Eucrisis on the ground' city series
Greek, Romanian, Albanian: why are these racist terms in Europe?
It's a fine line between risky jokes and racist innuendo. Those who manage to be funny while staying on the right side of that line are pretty smart. Nevertheless, at a time when calls to reject that protean scapegoat, the Other, are growing throughout the four corners of the continent, a little self-examination in Europe might not be a bad thing
albania, european identity, italy, tower of babel, europe, racism, languages
Anderlecht, Molenbeek, Schaarbeek: spot the crime in Brussels
Petty crime and unemployment rates (17.6%) are high in inner city Brussels, which registers a low violent crime rate in Europe. Nevertheless, police arrested 12 Belgian Albanians linked to a crime gang on 15 February*, whilst certain districts remain dangerous. Is this down to the crisis?
albania, eu crisis on the ground, cities, sex, brussels, immigration, financial crisis
There's no place for art in Tirana
One German visitor paints a bleak picture of the Albanian capital as a city of art and culture. In delapidated surroundings, the small seeds planted by creative folk via the Marubi academy and Tirana international contemporary art biennial struggle to grow
albania, cinema, film festival, festivals, culture, travel, socialism
On the road in a misunderstood country: tips for Albania
The most difficult aspect for travellers to this Eastern European country, which is about one quarter the size of England, is getting hold of a guide that speaks English. Despite this, with 400km of coastline, lakes and picturesque villages, Albania has something to offer for those in search of authenticity
albania, travel writing, aeroplane, travel, tourism, autostop, society
Anne-Marie Autissier: ‘Albania was the North Korea of its time’
The French senior lecturer at the Institute of European Studies and former cultural attaché to Albania, 50, has her finger in every pie with one common factor: a cultural Europe
albania, university, brunch, culture, translation, journalism, balkans
Macedonia in images: names, Tito and David Morales
After a Greek veto on its joining NATO during the annual summit in Bucharest on 2 - 4 April, the country could still be on track to start EU membership talks by the end of 2008 if it meets the relevant criteria. View from the lens
albania, photogallery, religion, identity, josip broz tito, david morales, candidate countries
Albania: 'Nato yes, PM Berisha no!'
Whilst Tirana celebrated an invitation to join the Nato alliance alongside Croatia on 2 April, the opposition mobilised itself to denounce the government
albania, council of europe, tirana, future of europe, non-eu countries, sali berisha, politics
NATO summit in Bucharest: Albania and Croatia to join
On 2 April NATO invited the two candidates to join the defence alliance, but leave Macedonia waiting
albania, greece, western eu, central and eastern europe, skopje, bucharest, croatia
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