TIRANA, Feb 5 /ATA/ Albania and Slovenia have successfully concluded the second and final round of negotiations for the agreement on employment and social security. The negotiations took place in Tirana from February 2 to 4.
Olta Manjani, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation, who headed the Albanian delegation, stated that “through close collaboration with the Slovenian delegation, led by Mojca Pršina Kumar, they successfully facilitated the initialling of this important agreement.”
Manjani emphasized that the agreement aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of employment and social insurance, ensuring the protection of citizens’ rights and the implementation of modern practices in line with European Union legislation.
“Citizens will benefit from the aggregation of contribution periods, ensuring that their years of employment are fully recognized. Additionally, in the domain of employment, the agreement will provide enhanced access and ensure equal rights within the labor markets of both countries,” stated Manjani.
Since 2005, Albania has signed approximately 28 agreements in the field of social security, including with Turkey, Belgium, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Romania, Kosovo, the Swiss Confederation, and Croatia. Additionally, agreements with Montenegro and Bulgaria are expected to come into effect soon.
The implementation of the pension agreement between Albania and Italy began on June 1, 2025, securing entitlement to pension benefits for approximately half a million Albanians and 4,000 Italians.
Countries such as Spain, Denmark, Moldova, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Latvia have granted their approval to begin negotiations.
However, the negotiation process with Greece remains the most prolonged and challenging for Albania.
/sm/
