TIRANA, Nov 2 /ATA/The 2027 draft budget provides for public spending exceeding €10 billion for the first time, with a focus on social support, pensioners, public investment and European integration.
According to Malaj, revenues for 2027 are projected to reach ALL 907.9 billion, or approximately €9.4 billion, while the budget deficit is expected to stand at 2.3% of GDP. He also stressed that the government aims to bring public debt down to 52.4% of GDP, continuing its fiscal consolidation policy.
“The proposed measures include pension indexation in April 2027, supported by a budget allocation of around ALL 1.35 billion, as well as doubling monthly bonuses for pensioners across the designated categories from January 1, 2027. The latter measure is expected to cost a total of ALL 20 billion over the year,” he stated.
Beyond pension support, the draft budget also includes a broader range of social measures, including doubling financial assistance for children with disabilities, covering social and health insurance contributions for their caregivers, maintaining monthly baby bonus payments until children turn five, and allocating approximately ALL 1.3 billion to social and affordable housing programmes.
Malaj noted that funding for social protection is expected to reach ALL 279.7 billion, accounting for approximately 30% of total budget expenditure.
“Education is a direct investment in the country’s future. For this reason, the 2027 draft budget allocates ALL 93.6 billion to the sector, representing an increase of ALL 4.5 billion compared with the previous funding level.
“Key funding priorities include an additional ALL 1.1 billion to increase scholarships for students in need, ALL 400 million to improve basic education infrastructure, and ALL 500 million for the ‘After School’ programme, which will extend school hours for children until 5:00 p.m. A further ALL 100 million will be allocated to scientific research,” the minister said.
The 2027 draft budget allocates ALL 87.2 billion to healthcare, including additional funding for medicines, medical equipment and the construction and renovation of 20 hospitals. A further ALL 36.7 billion is earmarked for public security, with ALL 3.3 billion set aside for State Police salary increases benefiting more than 8,500 officers.
The justice sector is set to receive approximately ALL 27.1 billion, equivalent to around €280 million.
The 2027 draft budget allocates ALL 75.4 billion to infrastructure and energy, while the defence sector is set to receive ALL 76.7 billion, including an additional ALL 7 billion in funding. According to Malaj, defence spending will account for 2.35% of GDP.
