Under the guidance of the National Authorising Officer (NAO) and with support from the relevant departments, including the NAO Support Directorate and the National Fund Directorate, the ministry prepared a comprehensive dossier in line with EU standards.

The submitted package includes a request for the delegation of budget implementation tasks, accompanied by detailed evidence of compliance with criteria set by the European Commission.

The submission represents a pivotal moment in preparations for activating IPARD III funds, planned for 2026. Next, the process will enter the evaluation phase by the European Commission’s DG AGRI, including detailed document review and possible on-site verifications, scheduled for the second quarter of this year.

The Ministry of Finance remains committed to meeting all EU standards and ensuring the effective absorption of IPARD III funds to enhance the competitiveness of Albania’s agricultural sector and support sustainable rural development.

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Preliminary data from the Finance Ministry showed corporate tax revenues rose to 19.6 billion leks, up 12.7% yea-on-year, while personal income tax revenues reached 21.8 billion leks, an increase of 4.8%.

The performance of these categories, closely tied to business profits and household income, points to stronger corporate results as well as rising employment, wages and formalisation in the labour market.

Total revenues for January-March reached about 205.1 billion leks, or 105.8% of plan, marking a 13.3% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

Tax and customs revenues contributed 130.6 billion leks, up 5.8% year-on-year, with tax administration revenues rising 10.1% to 77.7 billion leks. Net domestic VAT was among the fastest-growing items, climbing 19.4% to 25.2 billion leks, indicating stronger consumption and improved collection.

Customs revenues totalled 52.9 billion leks, slightly higher than a year earlier, while social and health insurance funds rose 10.5% to 48.3 billion leks.

Public spending in the first quarter reached around 156 billion leks, up 5.9% year-on-year but at 92.9% of plan, underscoring a faster pace of revenue growth than expenditure and an improved fiscal position at the start of the year.

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In a statement posted on social media, the Ministry said the Islamic Republic of Iran was continuing to escalate the conflict, attacking not only its neighbors in the Middle East but also targeting Türkiye.

“Once again, NATO has demonstrated its extraordinary capability and rapid response in defending its Allies and their security,” the Ministry said.

Albania strongly condemns the latest ballistic missile attack by the Iranian regime against Türkiye, a strategic partner of Albania and a valued NATO ally.

“We stand in full solidarity with Türkiye and with all Allies in defending the territory, security and unity of the Alliance,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

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The event aims to strengthen cooperation between the Albanian diaspora and domestic institutions, while building strategic partnerships for the country’s long-term development.

According to the ministry, the summit represents the next step in the continuous engagement of the diaspora, providing a more structured and results-oriented platform for dialogue and collaboration.

“The summit will create an in-depth space for dialogue and cooperation, where the diaspora’s international experience will intersect with national development priorities. Special focus will be on ideas, projects and initiatives linking the economy, innovation, culture, technology, education and entrepreneurship with the vision for Albania 2030,” the ministry said.

Designed as a co-creation platform, the summit seeks to strengthen ties between the diaspora, central institutions and local actors, contributing to comprehensive policies, functional partnerships and sustainable international collaboration.

The 4th Diaspora Summit invites professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives and experts worldwide to share their experience and help build new bridges of cooperation.

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The figure represents 32.6% of the planned budget revenue collections for 2025.

Data from the Ministry of Finance show that public spending in the first four months of this year totaled 207.87 billion lek.

According to the Ministry of Finance, state budget revenue from taxes and customs duties amounted to 163.9 billion lek, registering an increase of 0.9% or 1.5 billion lek more than planned for the four-month period. The budget revenue from taxes and custom duties rose 11.3% year-on-year, collecting around 16.6 billion lek more than during the same period of the previous year.

Tax revenue collected by the customs administration (revenue from VAT on imports, excise duties customs taxes and mining royalties amounted to 72.4 billion lek, marking an increase by 5.1% or 3.5 billion lek more than during the same period of 2024.

Finance Ministry noted that tax revenue from VAT, excise duties and mining royalties increased during the reviewed period.

The customs revenue amounted to 2.8 billion lek, up 1.9% or 52 million lek than during the same period of the previous year, representing 89.7% of the planned collections.

According to Finance Ministry, tax revenue from VAT, personal income, profit tax and national taxes totaled 91.5 billion lek or 13.1 billion lek more than in the first four months of 2024.

Public spending in the first four months of 2025 totaled 193.02 billion lek and the figure represents 13.1% increase or 22.4 billion lek more than planned.

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According to the financial indicators of the Ministry of Finance, tax administration collected 100 million lek more in profit tax compared to the same period of the previous year.

Tax administration projects to collect 65.7 billion lek in revenue from profit tax, up by 10.1% compared to 2024.

The Ministry of Finance said that the increase in revenue collections from the profit tax is mainly driven by high profit rates for businesses due to the increased prices and tax well-management.

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According to the Finance Ministry, state budget collections in 2024 totaled around 710.3 billion lek or 99.5% of the planned tax revenue. The figure represents 105.1% of the annual plan according to the initial budget projections.

Data show that tax administration collected 66.6 billion leks more collected compared to 2023, up by 10.4%.

According to the Ministry of Finance, state budget revenue from taxes and customs duties amounted to 457billion lek, registering an increase of 8.2% or 34.5 billion lek more compared to 2023.

Tax revenue collected by the customs administration (revenue from VAT on imports, excise duties customs taxes and mining royalties amounted to 229.5 billion lek, marking an increase by 5.9% or 12.7 billion lek more than collected in 2023.

According to Finance Ministry, tax revenue from VAT, personal income, profit tax and national taxes totaled 227.4 billion lek or 21.8 billion lek more than in 2023.

Social and health insurance contributions also climbed by 11.9% on the year to 160.7 billion lek or 17.1 billion lek more than in 2023.

Public spending in the 12-month period of 2024 totaled 728.6 billion lek and the figure represents 98.8% of the annual planned spending, recording an increase by 8% year-on-year.

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The Ministry of Finance said in a press statement that the Eurobond was issued with a coupon of 4.75% and a 5% yield. The bond has a maturity of 10 years and is the seventh time and most successful one since 2010 that the country has borrowed from international markets.

Eurobond’s successful issuance is attributed to several important aspects, mainly the investors’ high demand, leading to significant decline in yields down by 50 points from an initial rate of 5.5%.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the highly successful transaction of the 2025 Eurobond issuance highlights several key achievements of the Republic of Albania’s access to the capital market, including the high coverage ratio, and it is a positive signal regarding the country’s credentials.

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Official data show that foreign debt segment saw the strongest decline to 23.55% of the GDP from 26.2% in the end of 2023.

Albanian government projects public debt to further decline in 2025.

Efforts to reduce public debt remain a top priority with the government projecting public debt to fall to 55.8% in 2025, down from 56.3 by end of 2024.

According to the base scenario, gross public debt is expected to fall to around 55% in 2026 and further to around 48.5% in 2031 as part of the fiscal consolidation policy and the relevant fiscal rule defined in the organic law of the state budget.

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According to Ministry of Finance data, the total public expenditures were estimated at 459 billion lek, accounting for 95.1% of the planned spending in the first nine months, recording a 7.8% increase or by around 33 billion lek in expenditures compared to the same period of the previous year.

Total public expenditures accounted for 62.2% of the initial budget planned spending and 59.5% of the annual plan under the Normative Act.

Current and capital expenditures amounted 411.2 billion lek and 47.7 billion lek, increasing 8.4% and 2.8% compared to the same period of the previous year respectively.

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