According to Berisha, this policy guarantees a €200 minimum living wage for all citizens, cuts food VAT to 6% or removes it entirely and rapidly doubles wages and pensions

The opposition leader argued that economic pressures and a shrinking workforce have severely damaged the tourism industry and he proposed a three-point recovery plan.

Berisha stated that the plan includes fighting of trafficking, reducing crime’s impact on the economy, reforming hotel taxes, and creating a year-round support program for seasonal workers with state backing. It also emphasized that removing the food VAT is essential to lower living costs for citizens. /gj.m/ a.jor./p.s./

During a press conference, Berisha condemned the government for Albania’s skyrocketing fuel prices, which now rank among the highest globally. He described the ongoing daily price increases as “crazy” and accused the administration of governing through nothing but the outright theft of public money.

According to him, Public project completion rates hover around 5 to 8%, with the remainder abandoned and funds frequently misappropriated.

“Corruption in Albania’s tenders has hit €1.2 billion a year—more than the country spends on all pensions combined. The ‘10% GDP investment’ claim is a myth; the real figure is 4.9%, the lowest in Europe. We aren’t building a country; we’re funding a heist,” he said.

According to Berisha, the DP has developed a premier economic program vetted by top European and international institutions. He emphasized that once the party’s internal reorganization is complete, the DP will press forward with peaceful protests aimed at unseating the current government.

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The ruling majority and the opposition have joined the votes in the Assembly to approve the draft resolution on the country’s European integration process, while the DP MP Bujar Leskaj abstained.

The resolution provides for comprehensive cooperation and joint commitment to advance the process of Albania’s accession into the European Union.

It highlights the need for comprehensive political and social dialogue, with the aim of guaranteeing a national consensus on European priorities.

Through this resolution, the Assembly of Albania gets committed to strengthen its role in accelerating the accession process of Albania into the European Union.

The ruling majority is committed to ensure the conditions for the full participation of the opposition in Parliamentary activity, to respect its requirements in accordance with democratic standards, the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly.

On the other hand, the opposition gets committed to ensure full participation in Parliamentary activity in accordance with democratic standards, the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly. Both parties are committed to improve political dialogue. /m.m/j.p/p.s./

Speaking in a press conference, Berisha listed some of the reasons that, according to him, make Albania have the highest oil price compared to the countries in the region.

“Heavy taxation, smuggling, and limited supply from private reserves are the main drivers behind high oil prices. Fuel prices in this country are nearly 30 percent higher than in the EU, driven by a combination of high taxes, systemic smuggling that accounts for half of all consumption, and excessive storage duties, which burden all citizens, not just drivers,” said Berisha.

According to him, “High oil prices act as a hidden tax on everyone, driving up food costs because transportation expenses are passed on to the consumer.”

” Surging oil prices are driving up agricultural input costs, leaving many farmers struggling to afford cultivation,” he added.

Berisha also said that the soaring oil prices are driving up feed costs, significantly pressuring the livestock sector’s margins.

Berisha stressed that reducing excise duty when oil exceeds 220 lekë per liter is an irresponsible act and a great disregard for Albanian citizens.

“The DP has ready a program to reduce the fiscal burden on oil to the levels of North Macedonia and Kosovo, making oil 60% cheaper than in Albania. This package directly tackles the high taxes that make Albanian fuel among the most expensive in the region. We have already presented it to the Albanians; and I assure the Albanians that it will become a reality as soon as the Democratic Party comes to power,” Berisha said. /m.m/a.f/p.s./

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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Gazment Bardhi, the head of DP parliamentary group, criticized the plan after consultations with the Assembly Speaker and chairmen of parliamentary groups, saying the changes violate parliamentary rules and narrow the opposition’s role.

He noted that a single opposition-led committee has been split into three, effectively reducing DP’s leadership from three committees to just one and a half. Bardhi called it unacceptable that the ruling party presented these changes in its own assembly rather than through the full Parliament, describing the move as authoritarian.

Bardhi also accused the majority of sidelining the opposition from the EU integration process by merging the European Integration Committee with the Foreign Affairs Committee, eliminating the opposition’s traditional leadership role in this key area.

He argued Albania would become the first country in the region without a dedicated EU integration committee led by the opposition, contrary to models in the Balkans and EU member states.

The opposition lawmaker warned that the restructuring reduces the oversight capacity of all thematic committees and criticized plans to convene Parliament for three urgent days as unconstitutional.

In an earlier press statement, DP leader Sali Berisha also announced the opposition will reject the new structure of the parliamentary committees, calling the division of one committee into three a tactic to limit opposition influence.

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“In 2013, there was collected 51% of the waste in the territory, in 2020, there was collected 87% of it and in 2024, almost 98% of the waste. In 2013, we had only one landfill, that of Bushati, today we have 7 final waste treatment points”, said Kumbaro.

“Now, we propose a new national waste management plan. First, it has its own legal pillar. We have drafted the new waste law ready for approval. The draft respects and fulfills all European standards from a legal point of view. We have done this in very close consultation with European experts thanks to the IPA-circular economy project with the European Union. Likewise, the law on “Extended Producer Responsibility”, which has been taken to the Parliament and together with the waste law will be approved within the first session of this legislature”, said Kumbaro.

As part of the changes, there is expected creation of the National Waste Management Operator.

“The National Waste Management Agency was established in March 2024 and is currently an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Environment. We propose the creation of the National Waste Management Operator, as a state-owned company with powers to build, operate and finance waste infrastructure at the national level”, said Kumbaro.

She added that the competence of territorial management, in terms of waste management, was not transferred to the municipalities. “It should be emphasized that the competence of territorial management, in terms of waste management, was not transferred to municipalities, as clearly defined by the law on local autonomy, and the draft law on integrated waste management. The municipalities will continue to have the responsibility and duty of collecting waste in the territory, managing human resources and administering the light and mobile infrastructure necessary to successfully realize this competence as they still have at present-day”, said Kumbaro.

Kumbaro also presented the investments in progress in the Waste Management Areas of Berat, Dibra, Korça, Durrës, Vlora-North, Gjirokastra – Vlora South and Kukës as well as establishment of the Integrated Environmental Data System, as a digital platform that will provide primary data in real time on the urban waste register and waste transfers. /e.i/j.p/p.s./

The plan aims at security in coastal, lake and river areas; facilitating traffic at border crossing points; preventing road accidents and criminal activities; respecting the noise pollution levels and protecting the environment and tourist areas.

According to the Police announcement, “Different from last year, this year there will be applied the 12-hour service only in coastal areas. Additional services will be sent to assist local police, which will be compensated according to the relevant legislation.”

“In function of the plan, dozens of vehicles and motorbikes have been made available to increase readiness and rapid response; police officers with bicycles patrolling the beaches, to strengthen community policing and to provide assistance to holidaymakers; the Maritime Police unit will control and punish dangerous navigation within prohibited areas; drones will be used by police services to control the security perimeter on the beaches, as well as to identify and punish violations on the road,” a press release read.

Also, the Border Police has taken measures to increase counters and human resources at the Border Control Points, in order to manage the tourist flow.

The Road Police, with intelligent devices, drones and breathalyzers, will be available 24/7 on all national road axes and in residential centers.

Also, controls will be exercised to enforce the music schedule and punish noise level violators. Police officers are now equipped with noise measurement devices. /e.i/j.p/p.s./

Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation Blendi Gonxhja gave the news stating that the home of the ancient Illyrian cities of Bylis and Nikaia will be offered to local visitors and foreign tourists through a new management plan.

The plan brings together the historical values ​​of the park, the natural beauty of the hills surrounding the Vjosa valley and the development of Mallakastra community.

The new road connecting the highway to the park, together with the management plan funded by the European Union and Italian Agency for Development Cooperation AICS will transform the park into an important destination in Albania’s tourist offer. /a.f/p.s./

Speaking at the panel of this conference, Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that Albania does not have a “Plan B” versus the individual freedoms that are guaranteed only in the European Union.

“If you want to negotiate your freedom then give up and do not become part of the EU, but if you do not want to negotiate, you must become part of the EU”, said Rama.

The prime minister also emphasized that there is no Plan B versus the rule of law and being equal before the law.

“They can offer you vodka and caviar, but forget about the rule of law and equality before the law that is guaranteed only if you are part of all the rights that stem from the EU. Freedom can be guaranteed only by being part of the EU”, said Rama.

The prime minister mentioned the example of Afghanistan or Iraq where people had the opportunity to transform their country into a functional democracy and it did not work.

“It will never work if you do not have the EU on your horizon, because it is not only about what it is today, but also about how you can achieve it and how much support you have in the way you learn to do this,” said Rama.

PM Rama was part of the panel together with Martin Schulz, former President of the European Parliament and laureate of the “Karlspreis” prize, Veronika Tsepkalo, part of the Belarusian opposition, laureate of the “Karlspreis” prize and Dr. Jürgen Linden, Chairman of the Board of the “International Charlemagne Prize”.

Also present at this conference was René van der Linden, Honorary President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. /a.f//r.e/p.s./