Greece has warned Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama that respect for the rights of the Greek minority in Albania remains an explicit condition for Tirana's EU accession. Rama recently told 2,500 of his compatriots in Thessaloniki that the issue of Northern Epirus (a former Greek region now in southern Albania) belonged to the past and that "those who use this term are deluding themselves". Diplomatic sources in Athens sent a strong message to Rama, stressing that "history cannot be written off". "The Greek state's position was reported by state television ERT: "Athens' demand for full respect for the rights of the Greek ethnic minority is an explicit condition for Albania's accession process, in line with the unanimous position of the 27 EU member states on 11 October 2024."

In July 2025, UNESCO is due to review the World Heritage status of Lake Ohrid. The organisation is closely monitoring the condition of the lake, and Ohrid residents and environmentalists warn that excessive urbanisation, an overburdened sewage collection system and polluted rivers are destroying Lake Ohrid, Radio Free Europe's Macedonian website reports. According to the publication, "since at least 2017, the natural and cultural heritage of the Ohrid region has been of concern to the World Heritage Committee, in particular due to the impact of human activities and development projects. Since then, the lake, which borders Albania and northern Macedonia, has been closely monitored by UNESCO, including the submission of regular reports on the state of conservation of the site".

The lake is one of the oldest in Europe, dating back 3.5 million years, according to Reuters. It is home to some 200 unique species, including rare varieties of trout.