According to data from INSTAT, the at-risk-of-poverty indicator in Albania stood at 19.2% in the previous year, reflecting a decline of 0.6 percentage points compared to the revised figures for 2023.

Based on INSTAT data, the at-risk-of-poverty threshold for an individual in 2024 is estimated at 324,336 ALL, compared to 262,325 ALL in 2023.

INSTAT’s report assesses that social benefits—such as old-age pensions and family allowances—when included in household income, have contributed to reducing the at-risk-of-poverty rate.

Meanwhile, according to the data, the average monthly disposable income per capita (equivalised) increased by 23.2% compared to 2023, reaching 51,000 ALL.

Poverty data by age group and household structure indicate that the most significant decline in poverty has been recorded among children and young people under the age of 17.

For the working-age population (18–64 years), the poverty rate declined to 18.6%, while for individuals aged 65 and over, it saw a slight increase, reaching 13.8%.

The data also indicate that households with children remain more exposed to the risk of poverty compared to childless households, although both groups have shown improvements compared to the previous year.

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In a press release, the EU office in Tirana announces that the pre-financing, to the amount of EUR 64.5 million, is underway and will support the implementation of the Reform Agenda, under the Reform and Growth Facility, and the commitments that Albania undertook with it.

With this pre-financing, Albania received EUR 30 million in concessional loans for the state budget, as support for the implementation of the reforms under the country’s Reform Agenda. The remaining pre-financing of EUR 34.5 million, in grants and concessional loans, will be injected directly to the WBIF (Western Balkans Investment Framework) for infrastructure investments in Albania.

“The European Union stands by Albania’s side on its path to EU accession. The Growth Plan helps Albania to achieve this goal and to bring the Albanian economy closer to that of the European Union before Albania becomes a member. We are supporting Albania consolidate its rule of law, to develop its infrastructure, its green economy, its human capital and its private business. Europe is here to support sustainable growth and social cohesion as Albania prepares to access the EU’s single market,” said EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato.

“We value this as a clear sign of trust from the EU in Albania’s reform path and steady progress toward joining the European family. We fully embrace the magnitude of this historical opportunity, as well as the commitments ahead, and we are energetically motivated and prepared to continue reforming and diligently delivering on meeting the criteria for Albania’s European Union membership! Europe is here!)”, said Chief Negotiator Majlinda Dhuka.

Until 2027, Albania has the opportunity to receive up to EUR 922.1 million in total from the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, in return for reforms in rule of law and fundamental rights, renewable energy, digital economy, human capital and private sector development.
Future payments under the Facility will be made upon completion of the reform steps agreed between the Commission and the Albanian Government in the Reform Agenda. As Albania progresses in the implementation of its Reform Agenda, the EU will unlock the payments.
The Western Balkans Growth Plan offers a roadmap to bring the economies of the Western Balkans closer to the European Union. It also facilitates gradual access to the Single Market, allowing citizens in Western Balkans to reap some early benefits of the EU integration, as well as supports further regional economic integration.

The Growth Plan provides EUR 6 billion in additional financial assistance to support socio-economic and fundamental reforms and related investments. Payments are conditional upon the achievement of reforms specified in the Reform Agendas prepared by each beneficiary (https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/commission-implementing-decision-approving-reform-agendas-and-multiannual-work-programme-under_en).
The European Commission is currently working on the assessment of the first set of reform steps. The fulfilment of these steps will entitle Albania to receive the correspondent disbursement under the Facility.

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Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Energy Enkelejda Muça, present at the discussion of the European Affairs Committee on the draft law “On the ratification of the loan agreement, between the Republic of Albania and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, for the rehabilitation of the railway line Vorë-Hani i Hoti ,” said that, “the project contributes to a more sustainable transport system for the environment, in line with the EU’s green agenda.”

According to her, “this is an investment that contributes to the development of green and sustainable transport and the promotion of the transition from road to rail transport in our country and to the regional connectivity and the efficiency of rail transport of goods and passengers.”

Muca disclosed details of this project, pointing out that the railway line Vorë – Hani i Hoti (border with Montenegro) is 120 km long and the train speed will be up to 120 km/h. It will be an electrified railway line, category UIC D4.

She also said that the project entails the construction of 12 railway stations, the construction of a 320 meter long tunnel, the construction of 12 bridges, etc. “Once the construction of this railway line is completed, a passenger flow of 2,300,000 passengers/year and a cargo volume of 900,000 tons/year are expected. The average travel time from Vora to Hani e Hoti is expected to be 2 hours,” said Muça.
According to her, the project will contribute to the significant increase in the rail movement of goods and passengers entering and leaving Albania through the expansion of the main TEN-T network, arriving at the Port of Durrës or leaving Albania to other countries in the region of the Western Balkans.
After questions and discussions, the committee approved in principle, article by article and in its entirety the draft law in question.
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Balluku said that, “the works are running at a fast pace with over 33% of the contract in progress. We will do our best to complete the works before the summer season, because Mati, like all of Albania, turns into a tourist destination.”

In this construction site, she continued, the work seems to be progressing fast. She appealed for the protection of inland bathing waters, an important target on the plan of measures to ensure a successful tourist season.

Highlighting this intervention that is being implemented in the municipality of Mat, Balluku pointed out the action that the Albanian Government announced only a few days ago, which focuses on bathing waters and reducing their pollution. Balluku once again repeated the appeal to entities that operate near bathing waters to take measures such as installing the equipment for the treatment of wastewater.

“All businesses, and we are talking mainly about hotels, restaurants, other entertainment operators in the coastal area, in all those spots close to bathing waters, lakes and rivers, must install cleaning equipment , for the purification of wastewater before they are discharged into watercourses. These measures are taken because population in Albania increases fourfold during the tourist season,” said Balluku.
For the entities that refuse to implement these measures, the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy brought to attention the penalties that go up to the suspension of activity.
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In his remarks delivered on Monday during the presentation of the EBRD Transition Report 2023-2024, Sejko emphasized that, “compared to the countries of the region, Albania has one of the highest rates of economic growth, the lowest rates of inflation and the slowest increase of financing costs.”
The governor underlined the importance of the EBRD Transition Report, which, as he said, “paves the way for professional economic analyses for the year, pushes forward the economic debate, not only on the current challenges, but also on the appropriate development policies with view to a faster and more stable growth, improvement of social well-being, economic and financial integration with our European partners, as well as increasing resilience to shocks.”

“Among the topics listed in the Transition Report, I would like to dwell on that of climate change. Global warming and the increase in the frequency of climate-induced natural disasters have serious repercussions on all countries and economies, be them developed or developing, large or small, “said Sejko.

IMF estimates, the Governor continued, suggest that Albania has an average of one episode of natural disaster per year, which causes damage up to the level of 1.3% of GDP and affects at least 1 in 200 inhabitants of the country.

Sejko appealed that in the face of this situation, public authorities should engage in concrete plans and strategies to minimize their impact and to achieve sustainable economic and social development.

“BoA efforts consist in three main directions: First, in monitoring climate risks and expanding our analytical capacities in this field. Secondly, in promoting green finance with the “Strategy for the Management of Financial Risks related to Climate Change, 2023-2025″ recently approved, and thirdly, in strengthening cooperation with local and foreign partners,” said Sejko.

BoA works with Albanian and international partners to increase knowledge, awareness and transparency on climate-related issues. Since 2020, BoA is a member of the Networking for a Green Financial System (NGSF), while it has been cooperating for a long time with the World Bank (FinSAC), the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of the Swiss Government (SECO), the Vienna Initiative and others.
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He said that Italy has committed a loan of 30 million euros to support the civil protection system.

“After the November 26 earthquake, which was followed y the donors’ conference, Italy committed itself, among other things, to supporting the protection system with a loan of 30 million euros. This agreement was approved today in the Council of Ministers and in a few weeks during the next months it will be ratified in the parliament and will become effective. The loan provides for the support of the civil protection system that does not belong to an institution. It is run by the National Civil Protection Agency under the Ministry of Defense but it is spread over the entire territory and all levels, starting from the local level, municipalities, prefectures. “Almost the entire system is positively impacted, so it receives financing from this loan worth 30 million euros,” he said.
Peleshi clarified that, first, a center of the National Agency of Civil Protection will be set up, well equipped with technology up to EU standards.

“At the same time, in all the prefectures and in the four centers of the Civil Protection Agency in the territory, operational halls equipped and connected to each other with a network will be up and running. Operational search and rescue structures will be set up near the civil protection centers, that will be provided with equipment and training,’ said Peleshi.

Peleshi added that as part of this loan, the purchase of two specific air vehicles for the fight against wildfires is also foreseen.
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Prime Minister Edi Rama posted Tuesday images showing Albanian fishermen at work and shared data on Albania’s fishery and seafood exports to various countries around the world.

“Good morning and via these images showing fishermen at work in our Riviera along with information on a sector that is increasingly contributing to the country’s economy, recording remarkable growth over the years of our government’s term in office, I wish you all a good day,” PM Rama said.

Albania’s fishery exports have registered a fourfold increase compared to when 1705 metric tons of fish and seafood were exported. Fishery exports were estimated at around 8, 219 tons in 2020.

Government has provided a series of fiscal incentives to the fisheries sector, including removal of excise duty on fuel, carbon tax, zero VAT rate on fishing nets, electronic equipment, storage facilities, and engines of the fishing boats.

As many as 745 fishing vessels operate in our country.

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The country’s exports registered a growth of 7.3% percent compared to the same period of 2019, reaching the pre-crisis growth rate.

Exports rose 35% year-on-year to 109 billion lek in the first four months. Exports grew by 10% compared to the first four months of 2019.

In annual increase of exports by 92.3 % this month, a positive contribution was given by the groups: “Construction materials and metals” with +28.6 percentage point, “Textile and footwear” with +25 percentage points, “Mineral, fuels, electricity” with +24 percentage points.

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Yet, ARA reminds commuters to exercise caution on roads because of wet conditions, to go slower and adhere to road signs.

According to ARA, snowfall have hit northern Albania overnight, such as on Dedaj-Razëm, Bajram Curri-Valbonë. The crews are treating the roads, which are passable.

On Fushë Arrëz-Kukës and Kalimash-Fushë Dukagjin segments, ARA informs, the torrential rains have triggered landslides which were cleared right away by the contracting maintenance companies which have been out overnight and into early morning treating the roads that are passable.

In the southern region, according to ARA, rainfall of moderate intensity triggered landslides on Berat-Çorovodë and Patos-Ballsh segments, which have been cleared on time to ensure smooth traffic.
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The Meteorological Service said that light to moderate rain is expected to fall mainly in northwest through the end of the day.

The wind will blow from southeast to northwest direction at a speed ranging from 1 to 10 meters per second and to around 20 meters per second in the country’s coastal areas, triggering 1.2 to 1.5-meter high sea waves.

Following are the predicted temperatures:

Shkoder              8/20

Kukes                   8/19

Lezhe                   6/18

Diber                    4/16

Durres                  6/21

Tirane                    7/23

Elbasan                   7/20

Berat                       1/25

Vlore                        8/23

Korça                       5/18

Gjirokaster              1/21

Sarande                     9/21

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