Marking International Youth Day, Kumbaro said the projects, funded through the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation, addressed key challenges and needs facing the younger generation.

The research covers topics ranging from university skills and preparing young people for the labour market to the use of artificial intelligence and digitalisation in education.

Other projects focus on psychological and social well-being, inclusion, environmental awareness and climate skills, as well as youth leadership, bullying, discrimination, social justice and youth rights.

Kumbaro said public funding for scientific research aimed to support projects addressing real-life questions and challenges facing young people, linking research to their educational, career, technological and social needs.

“Investing in knowledge, research and innovation is an investment in the younger generation and in the future,” Kumbaro said.

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In remarks during a visit to a dairy processing plant in southeastern Albania town of Pogradec on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said the initiative was designed to support businesses in these sectors by encouraging investment, modernisation and greater competitiveness.

“The government’s newest programme, ‘Double Your Enterprise’, is focused precisely on businesses, agritourism and agro-processing, providing them with access to financing of up to 2 million euros through loans with favourable terms of up to 10 years and interest rates of only 2-3%,” Koçiu said.

She said a key element of the programme was a sovereign guarantee scheme through which the government would cover up to 70% of required collateral, making it easier for businesses to access financing in cooperation with commercial banks.

Koçiu said the programme had been launched with an initial fund of 250 million euros, with plans to expand support to 1 billion euros if demand from businesses remains strong and the initiative delivers positive results.

She added that dedicated platforms established under the “Double Your Enterprise’ programme would provide businesses with support throughout the financing application process, including assistance with documentation and technical guidance, in order to reduce bureaucratic barriers.

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Andis Salla highlighted the importance of investment in strengthening food security and preparing Albanian products for international markets.

“Albania is advancing in its integration process, and Albanian products must meet high standards and quality requirements for foreign markets. Investment in technology and supportive financial policies are essential to ensuring high food safety standards for both domestic and international consumers,” Salla said.

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Zhupa, chair of parliament’s Committee on Culture, Tourism and the Diaspora, argued that the concert had been presented as a private investment and should therefore have been financed by its organisers through ticket sales, sponsorships and private investment.

Speaking to reporters at parliament, Zhupa said the decision was not merely a poor political choice or a misuse of public funds, but also ran counter to Article 101 of Albania’s Constitution, which allows the government to issue normative acts only in cases of necessity and urgency.

“The emergencies for which this fund exists are earthquakes, floods, fires and disasters that threaten people’s lives, property and safety -not the financing of a concert,” she said.

Zhupa also pointed to ongoing wildfires, shortcomings in civil protection capacity and funding needs in healthcare, education, agriculture and pensions, arguing that public money would be better spent in those sectors.

She warned that a normative act should not be used to bypass parliamentary oversight whenever the government seeks to finance what she described as an unjustified expenditure.

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Marking World Rural Development Day, Salla reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and boosting the rural economy through policies aimed at increasing domestic production, expanding investment, improving access to finance and creating new opportunities in rural areas.

Agriculture Minister said the government’s 2026 support package includes 5.2 billion leks for the National Agricultural Support Scheme and 1.5 billion leks in sovereign guarantees to facilitate lending to farmers and agribusinesses.

The package also provides 4 billion leks for irrigation and drainage infrastructure, with the aim of improving the sustainability of agricultural production and protecting farmland.

In addition, a 10% compensation scheme for agricultural product sales came into effect on July 1, providing direct support to farmers while encouraging greater formalisation of the agricultural sector.

Salla said the measures are intended to strengthen the rural economy and improve the long-term resilience and competitiveness of Albania’s agricultural sector.

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Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Demo said 35 million euros would be used to upgrade basic local infrastructure, while the remaining 30 million euros would finance two key development programmes.

One programme will establish regional fleets of specialised maintenance vehicles to support municipalities in maintaining agricultural and urban infrastructure, he said.

The package also introduces a new model for urban public transport, under which selected municipalities will participate in a pilot programme in 2026 in cooperation with the Albanian Development Fund.

The initiative envisages the deployment of modern electric buses to improve public transport services, enhance urban quality of life and reduce costs for passengers, Demo said.

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The government head announced the plan as he attended an event presenting results of the 10th National Internship Program for outstanding students, a decade-long initiative turning internships into employment opportunities.

Rama stressed the importance of participant feedback to improve the program. He also highlighted the Youth Guarantee project, a government and EU initiative aimed at engaging young people with potential who are not yet active in the labor market.

The project offers economic support, professional training, internships, and job opportunities.

Addressing participants with one-year contracts, Rama encouraged them to develop skills beyond their assigned duties, saying quality human resources are essential for society. He told those not selected to continue trying, noting other opportunities exist.

Rama also emphasized ongoing reforms to public administration legislation to increase flexibility and create more opportunities for young people, citing the internship program’s success in attracting top talent from universities and society.

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Public funds allocated to sport for 2026 will total 834.6 million leks, up more than 32% from 2025, Gonxhja told reporters at a press conference in Tirana. Of that amount, 367.5 million leks will be distributed as grants to around 30 Olympic and non-Olympic sports federations.

The fund allocation will support the organisation of international competitions, including the CUPRA FIP Tour Platinum Cup in padel, as well as institutional and organisational preparations for hosting the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2027, the minister said.

Gonxhja also outlined plans to begin procedures for the construction of four new stadiums: Selman Stermasi in Tirana, Niko Dovana in Durrës, Skënderbeu in Korçë and Flamurtari in Vlorë. He said the projects aim to modernise sports infrastructure, expand youth participation and enable Albania to host major national and international events.

In addition, he announced changes to legislation on donations and sponsorships, including the creation of a national electronic register and the introduction of a tax credit mechanism that would allow sponsorships to be deducted from corporate income tax liabilities by up to 30%.

Gonxhja also highlighted the expansion of youth and school-based sports programmes and partnerships with international academies, as part of broader efforts to promote sport and strengthen Albania’s international profile.

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Dhuka told a news conference she had checked with the national IPA funds coordinator and the authorised national officer – SASPAC and the Ministry of Finance – and there was no indication of any funding freeze.

“The EU supports Albania in its digital transformation at both central and local level, including as a tool to prevent corruption,” she said, adding that no prior notification had been received from Brussels.

Dhuka said the digital programme is a new initiative still being prepared for implementation with EU support and has not yet begun, while Albania continues to strengthen financial management and anti-corruption safeguards.

Separately, State Minister for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni said Albania has adopted an anti-corruption action plan to address EU concerns over IPARD agricultural funds and expects to regain access to the programme.

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Speaking at a meeting of the Interministerial Committee for Civil Emergencies chaired by Prime Minister Edi Rama, Malaj said the funds are spread across several budget lines covering both emergency response and disaster prevention.

“In total, we have more than 50 million euros available to deal with the situation caused by the severe weather,” Malaj said.

Finance Minister said 30 million euros had been allocated under the Civil Emergencies programme, including 15 million euros earmarked for projects and works related to disaster prevention.

He added that a further 10 million euros was available through a conditional fund for Civil Emergencies, managed by the Ministry of Defence and to be distributed to local authorities based on a risk-based methodology.

In addition, a 25 million-euro reserve fund of the Council of Ministers will be made available to meet concrete needs, depending on assessments of damage caused by the weather, Malaj said.

He said a separate fund of 5 million euros had also been set aside for dams and reservoirs, aimed at financing interventions and investments in water infrastructure.

The Interministerial Committee for Civil Emergencies met in Tirana on Friday to review the situation caused by the recent severe weather and to coordinate the response in affected areas.

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Speaking at a conference on the Municipal Performance Measurement System, an incentive-based policy aimed at strengthening public services, Huber said Switzerland had long supported Albania’s decentralisation and municipal capacity-building efforts.

“We remain a strong partner in this field. We are encouraged by the improving performance of municipalities, though the report also highlights challenges that must be addressed in the coming months,” Swiss Ambassador said.

Huber described the recently introduced performance-measurement system as an important tool that helps municipalities improve their work.

“This is a significant step toward the maturity and leadership of local government. It shows municipalities are ready to develop themselves, which is a cornerstone of decentralisation,” she said.

She added that the system of performance metrics and grants mirrors mechanisms used in the EU, where performance-based financing plays a key role in regional policy. “Albania is preparing even better for EU membership. Municipalities that actively engage and seek these grants are better positioned to access EU funds in the near future,” Huber said.

Decentralisation, she stressed, brings more delegated functions, greater autonomy and better services for citizens.

“Switzerland will continue to support Albania in this important transformation,” she added.

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