Amelia Dease | Originally Published: 17 January 2026
Artwork by Attaché Commentary’s Political Cartoonist, Amelia Dease
A recent enlargement report indicates that Albania’s EU dreams have taken flight. An unexpected frontrunner, Albania has successfully closed the first clusters of its path to accession. The most daunting task ahead remains tackling corruption in the judiciary.
This illustration depicts a woman in a red dress and black gloves crossing her hands to perform a hand gesture which is known in Albania as shenja e flamurit (flag sign). This gesture refers to the double-headed eagle, which is present on Albania’s red and black flag, as well as the flags of other byzantine-influenced nation-states and monarchies throughout history. The eagle gesture is used by Albanians to denote national pride and Albanian ethnic identity. Use of the salute has proven controversial in global contexts such as sporting events and musical competitions, as some believe that the gesture implies support for the notion of Greater Albania.
The woman wears three gold rings. The first is an unabashed “#1,” which is meant to reflect the massive progress Albania has made in its race to the EU. The second is the aforementioned twin-headed eagle. Finally, the woman wears a glass-domed ring with the flag of Europe. Careful observers will notice that the halo of this ring is reminiscent of a ‘lover’s eye’ pendant.
The Attaché 