This is the news from Monday 3 February.

The Commissioner for Personal Data Protection Besnik Dervisha, and Central Election Commission Ilir Celbashi, called on political parties and organizations to respect the law when processing voters’ personal data. They have insisted on alignment with the electoral code, data protection laws, and the EU’s GDPR.
The statement comes after two marketing companies were found to be targeting diaspora voters, collecting their personal data and promising to assist them with registering to vote.
Political parties and relevant organisations should collect and process only data necessary for voter registration purposes,” the joint statement says.

Businesses and citizens in Albania do not expect a significant increase in business and income this year. According to a study by the Central Bank of Albania, in the first months of this year, the construction industry also predicts minimal growth. Tourism is the only sector that is expected to see any momentum in 2025.

Albania’s Ministry of Defence will cooperate with French arms production companies to invest in defense. Minister Pirro Vengu made the statement during a meeting with a French defence delegation on Monday. The Albanian government has previously stated that it plans to reactivate some of the factories built during communism to produce ammunition and weapons.

The capital of Kosovo has declared an emergency due to waste. Pristina’s Mayor Përparim Rama stated that the public company that was supposed to clean the city is not fulfilling the contract, causing chaos and serious problems for citizens.