SPAK Under Pressure: Albania’s anti-corruption watchdog SPAK faces a real test as scrutiny grows around a proposed $1.4bn Kushner-linked luxury resort near Sazan Island and the Vjosa-Narta coast, with public debate focused on environmental risks and governance gaps. Coastal Development Backlash: The “Flamingo Revolution” protests keep escalating against two major coastal projects tied to Affinity Partners and Gulf investors, with critics alleging procedure bypasses and land-governance failures. Rail & Energy Infrastructure: Parliament moved to ratify an EBRD loan for electrifying the Tirana–Durrës railway and building the Rinas station connection, aiming for modern electric service by end-2027. Food Safety Upgrade: Albania advanced a Germany technical cooperation deal to support EU4Food Safety, targeting stronger controls, laboratories, and alignment with EU Chapter 12 requirements. Agriculture Law Changes: Parliament approved a package of agriculture bills, including trade certificates, the agricultural census, chemical management updates, aquaculture amendments, and protection of agricultural land—highlighting a split within the ruling Socialist Party. Exports & Tourism Signals: June exports jumped on energy, minerals and building materials, while tourism growth nearly stalled after protests triggered cancellations and weaker arrivals. Budget Surplus: Albania reported a near-53bn lek budget surplus in H1, giving the state more room to fund infrastructure without extra borrowing. Banking Recognition: Raiffeisen Bank Albania won three Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026 for corporates, digital banking, and ESG. EU Air Base Cooperation: A regional European Partnership Flight conference in Tirana focused on air base operations, logistics and interoperability across partner nations.