MP Anila Denaj, in her capacity as initiator, emphasized that guided by proportionality, transparency, and non-discrimination, this legislation streamlines the services sector by removing regulatory and legal barriers to market access.

The draft law introduces market liberalization by limiting administrative intervention to cases of major public interest. It also ensures equal treatment for domestic and EU providers by removing unnecessary physical establishment requirements.

On her part, Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation Olta Manjani stated that the draft law aligns with Chapter 3 (Right of Establishment and Free Provision of Services), aligning with one of the four EU fundamental freedoms.

Manjani explained that the draft law streamlines procedures via an ‘e-Albania’ single point of contact. This digitalization simplifies administrative tasks, cuts red tape, and boosts transparency.

Replacing the 2016 law, this draft law establishes a new horizontal framework to modernize sectoral rules, fostering a more competitive, transparent and EU-integrated services market. /j.p/p.s./

Attending the roundtable was Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation Olta Manjani. She emphasized the need for Albanian manufacturers to move to a more advanced level, through closed production chains, increasing the use of innovation and improving quality infrastructure, according to the EU standards.

The event organized by AIDA brought together representatives of central institutions, regulatory authorities, the financial system, business organizations and manufacturing and exporting enterprises, creating a comprehensive platform for dialogue on the challenges and prospects of the sector.

On the part of the government and central institutions, the representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Albania, as well as heads of the General Directorate of Taxes and Customs, who addressed fiscal, customs, monetary and quality infrastructure issues, with a direct impact on production and export, also contributed to the roundtable.

The National Economic Council, Pro Export Albania, representatives of the cement industry, the plastics industry, as well as other associations of manufacturing sectors, produced concrete issues and proposals for supporting policies.

During the discussions, there were identified key challenges such as the lack of labor force, the costs of certifications and technology, energy prices and environmental challenges.

/e.i/a.f/p.s./

In an interview with the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), Manjani said the reform aims to keep the pension system financially sustainable, fair across generations and capable of ensuring adequate incomes for a dignified life.

“The reform does not touch contributions, but how the system responds to new economic and demographic realities,” she said.

The overhaul will be built on two pillars: parametric changes and systemic changes. Parametric adjustments will focus on retirement age and benefit calculation. Under current rules, the retirement age for women will reach 62 in 2026, while increases for men begin in 2032, with full equalisation currently planned for 2056.

However, Manjani said the timeline is under review as Albania aligns with EU directives that envisage equal retirement ages by 2030. Albania has requested a transitional period to avoid labour market distortions, proposing a later target of 2035 or 2040.

Systemic changes will include strengthening voluntary private pension schemes and developing mandatory private schemes, following consultations with businesses and interest groups. Manjani stressed that the contributory principle will remain the foundation of the system.

Alongside the reform, the government will implement a separate policy to gradually raise pensioners’ incomes through 2030. The average full urban pension is expected to rise from 27,350 lek to 40,000 lek, while disability pensions are projected to increase from 20,000 lek to 30,000 lek.

She noted that monthly increases will begin in January 2026, starting at 1,800 lek for full urban pensions, 800 lek for partial urban pensions, 1,000 lek for rural pensions, 700 lek for family pensions and 600 lek for disability pensions.

“These amounts will double in January 2027, triple in January 2028, quadruple in January 2029 and quintuple in January 2030,” Manjani said.

/a.f/r.e/u.sh/

Manjani appreciated this gathering as a good opportunity to exchange views on global economic developments.

“We discussed on the significance of Albania’s active involvement in the most important international platforms of economic and political dialogue”, she said.

Manjani noted that Albania’s representation and engagement in such forums is essential to strengthen Albania’s presence in the global arena.

“We aim to foster strategic partnerships and bring more development opportunities to priority sectors of our country’s economy”, said Manjani.

Davos 2025 Forum is being held from June 24 to 26 in Tianjin Municipality, northern China.

This year’s Summer Davos Forum has the theme “Entrepreneurship for a New Era” and is expected to gather around 1,800 participants from over 90 countries and regions./a.f/p.s./

Manjani said that another important commitment is the establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee with the European Economic and Social Committee, as was the organization of the first inaugural meeting in Tirana in April of the current year.

Deputy Minister also highlighted Albania’s accession to the global coalition for social justice, reflecting its commitment to promoting the values ​​of social justice in the country and in the region, while Albania is in the role of a pioneer country in the Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions.

Manjani said that Albania supports the adoption of the resolution for the Second World Summit for Social Development, to be held in Doha in November 2025, aiming at the collective ambition towards expanding universal access to social protection.

At the same time, Manjani held bilateral meetings with the Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Beate Andrees, as well as with Minister of Economy and Labor of the Republic of North Macedonia Besar Durmishi. /e.i/a.f/p.s./

Manjani said that one of the proposals of the World Bank is to increase the retirement age, according to her, this proposal has been opposed, since this matter has been settled in the 2014 reform.

According to Manjani, there can be discussed on acceleration of implementation of the age increase scheme, but not beyond 67 years old.

Deputy Minister Manjani said that the increase in revenues is affected either by the increase in the number of contributors, but also due to the increase in salaries.

She also explained why the countries of the region have higher pensions. According to her, these countries had a different transition period from our country.

“Until 2014, we had a scheme with administrative ceilings for the minimum and maximum pension; it was damaging because it did not link the amount of contributions into the scheme with the amount of benefit”, said Manjani.

Manjani said that contributory revenues have increased from 3.81% to 5.39%, or an increase of about 1.6% to the GDP. /p.s./

Manjani said that the government has made an analysis of the current situation: The first point is to address the small pensions and the gap that exists between the low and high pensions.

Through increasing pensions, we want to ensure that all Albanian citizens have a decent and stable pension, said Manjani.

Further on, the deputy minister said that: “We are looking at the opportunity to review the entire pension scheme as a whole and to understand that in the long term we can change something with how contributions are reflected in the pension measure and what the average retirement age should be.”

“It is important that the pension scheme is a solidarity scheme with universal coverage. This means that every person in Albania when he turns 70 receives a pension even if he has never worked in his life or has not contributed. After adjusting the contributory principle, the second group of reforms is how the calculation formula of the pension scheme will be revised in order to reflect the contributions given in value, but also take into account the increase of the pension in the future so that to ensure a decent life “, concluded Manjani. /a.f/p.s./

During the meeting, there were held panel discussions with Albanian and Bavarian businesses, an activity organized by the Association of Bavarian Businesses, VBW.

In her capacity as co-chair of the Albania-Bavaria Joint Commission, Manjani emphasized the important role that businesses have in consolidating economic cooperation and strengthening the relations between our countries, especially in priority sectors of our economy. /r.e/p.s./

Speaking at a joint press conference with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Manjani said that the agreement was signed after Albania met the required standards.

She said that Albania has already signed agreements on pension rights recognition with other EU member states, including Germany, Belgium or Luxembourg.

According to her, examination of the respective social insurance schemes is a precondition before the negotiations on pension rights recognition can begin.

She also underlined that the framework agreement between Albania and Italy was signed since July 2022 and as such it has nothing to do with the migrant deal signed last year.

/r.e/u.sh/

Manjani said that the fresh pension rise is part of the Albanian government policies to ensure best social protection for the vulnerable social categories and to mitigate effects of the inflation in consumer prices.

“As part of its measures to protect social categories from the successive blows, the government has undertaken policies aimed at strengthening social protection and therefore the state budget spending has kept increasing. State pensions were indexed twice last year at a rate of 9.5%, with a financial effect of 5.4 billion lek,” the Deputy Finance Minister said.

According to Manjani, the government decision to  index pensions include all pension categories, partial and full pensions, invalidity payments, and the pensions from the state’s special aid fund etc.

According to her, the pension indexation makes up for the price increase during the period from August 2022 and August 2023.

Manjani said that in addition to the pension increase, the government will provide the end-year bonus of 5000 lek.

/u.sh/