EU Accession Push: Ursula von der Leyen met PM Edi Rama in Tirana, praising Albania as a frontrunner and saying the “goal is within reach,” while urging faster, real implementation in justice, elections, and environment; she also cited €213m under the Growth Plan and said 63 schools were rebuilt or renovated via the EU for Schools programme. Protests & Security: The visit sparked street unrest as demonstrators chanted “No EU with Rama,” with police cordons and clashes outside the PM office. EU Enlargement Rules: Brussels is weighing new ways to involve candidate states earlier—potentially letting Albania designate a commissioner before full ratification—and is drafting a single-market access model tied to security and foreign-policy alignment. Justice & Rights at Home: Rama unveiled a sweeping Criminal Procedure Code overhaul, aiming to limit pre-trial detention, tighten phone-search rules, expand defense powers, and protect victims. Local Governance: Jailed Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj reportedly reshuffled municipal leadership while detained. Economy & Investment: Albania’s economy grew 3.61% in Q2, and the U.S. flagged rising investment but persistent concerns over corruption and informality. Health Watch: A second West Nile virus case was confirmed in Korçë. Police & Media: Tirana police began checks into sexually explicit videos circulating online, while the data protection commissioner urged media and users to stop sharing intimate material.