The plan sets out coordinated measures across the social welfare, health and education sectors to expand access to quality services and promote equal opportunities for children’s development.

Speaking at a meeting with national and international stakeholders involved in drafting and implementing the plan, Health and Social Protection Minister Evis Sala said the strategy represented a concrete commitment to supporting children and families most in need.

“Our challenge today, and my personal commitment as minister, is to ensure that every sound policy is successfully implemented, so that every reform, service and investment envisaged in this plan translates into real improvements in the lives of our children and families,” Sala said.

She said the plan builds on reforms introduced in recent years to strengthen support for children and families, including expanding economic assistance, broadening early childhood care services, developing family- and community-based care, promoting inclusive education and better integrating health and social services.

Among the measures highlighted by Sala is a doubling of financial support for around 11,000 children with disabilities, alongside recognition of social security contributions for their caregivers.

She said the European Child Guarantee was not only part of Albania’s European Union accession process but also reflected the country’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities and a better future for every child.

Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, praised Albania for taking a leading role in the region in preparing and implementing the action plan.

“The development of this national plan has been based on strong evidence, broad consultation and effective cross-sector coordination,’ Beigbeder said, adding that it demonstrated Albania’s commitment to tackling child poverty, promoting social inclusion and investing in future generations.

Miha Pezelj, a representative of the European Union Delegation to Albania, described the European Child Guarantee as one of the EU’s main instruments for combating child poverty and social exclusion.

The 2026-2030 Action Plan will guide inter-institutional efforts over the next five years, strengthening cooperation between government institutions, international partners and civil society organisations to improve access to quality services and equal opportunities for children across Albania.

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During his speech, Malaj highlighted Albania’s sustainable progress toward EU convergence, emphasizing the economy’s increasingly robust performance.

According to him, driven by strong growth, falling debt and high investment, our economy is transforming into a more competitive and resilient force.

The minister underlined that these accomplishments are the direct result of comprehensive reforms and a clearly defined strategic vision. He added that the ‘Albania 2030’ initiative is committed to resolutely accelerate the country’s path toward European integration. /a.f/p.s./

Salla said the 2026 support scheme for farmers would have an initial budget of 5.2 billion leks, 16% higher than last year’s program, which supported more than 65,000 farmers.

He emphasized that the scheme would be redesigned in line with the country’s long-term “Agriculture 2030” vision.

“Farmers remain at the center of public policies. Public money should translate into higher production, better quality and greater competitiveness for a modern, sustainable, European-style agriculture,” Salla said.

The tour will continue across other regions across Albania to ensure direct community input in shaping the 2026 National Support Scheme for farmers.

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The 250-page volume explores history, art, culture and Orient’s religious traditions, offering a visual narrative aimed at capturing the essence of places ranging from South Asia to East Asia, and promoting recognition, sensitivity and reflection on “the different.”

The presentation was held with the support of the Italian Institute of Culture and Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës, organisers said.

The project was developed with contributions from the organisation Resolution, led by art manager Liora Sinigaglia, as well as Dr Armela Curi and photographer Grisel Hoxha.

According to the organisers, the aim of the project is to promote greater understanding of Asian cultures and civilisations, drawing on images collected over two decades.

The photographic journey spans countries including India, Cambodia, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Nepal, as well as Japan and Thailand. The images are marked by strong colours and sharp contrasts, conveying a sense of diversity and authenticity.

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The government head emphasized the importance of May 11 parliamentary elections to Albania’s European Union membership process, saying the country’s path towards the bloc could fall apart should the Socialists fail to win.

“May 11 is an unusual election day as it is not about which party is going to win, but it is about Albania’s fate in the coming years that coincide with our fourth term in office. The country’s EU accession negotiations would have not been question if it were no elections in between,” Rama said.

The Premier stated that the May 11 elections will determine the progress of EU accession talks, saying  “the EU membership perspective is now real and actual for the first time since the country embarked on this path.”

“It is for the first time that not only we want to become EU members, but also they want to have us in the EU as soon as possible,” Rama stated, adding that this window of opportunity may not be always opened.

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Addressing a presentation ceremony, the Minister of Education and Sports Ogerta Manastirliu highlighted importance and the duties the quality assurance coordinators will be tasked with.

“We have launched a new role within the school, namely the coordinator for quality assurance, who will help identify teaching quality challenges and problems. The quality assurance coordinator is hired to assist the education process and the teachers’ professional development. The teacher in the role of quality assurance coordinator will act according to a daily, weekly and monthly plan to carry out internal evaluations of teachers according to departments and subjects, using unified evaluation tools,” Education Minister Manastirliu said.

According to her, teachers’ evaluation will be carried out through employment of various methods, including face-to-face discussions with teachers on new teaching methods and challenges.

“The quality coordinator will also help to create a network of experienced teachers to assist young teachers. The process is based on three-year training plan according to an assessment made by the coordinator in collaboration with school officials and departments and includes concrete actions aimed at supporting teachers’ professional development,” Manastirliu added.

Education Minister also said that the state budged spending for education is projected to grow significantly in 2025 to support investment projects, as well as new increase in teachers’ wages.

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Accompanied by the Minister of State for Relations with Parliament, Elisa Spiropali, and the Mayor of Shkodra, Benet Beci, the government head visited first the “Buni i Bajraktarit” guesthouse, which he termed as “The Heaven’s Balcony”.

In a video-message while visiting the guesthouse, PM Rama said that the new investment support package in the Alps will be on focus of discussion with the rural tourism entrepreneurs, who have opened their doors and have turned the village of Theth into a European tourist destination.

PM Rama said that the new package will open up new opportunities to “all of those who have left from these mountains in search of better life and have been working and work hard saving money.”

“They can easily invest their savings to transform the land they inherit from their ancestors, without facing previous countless challenges regarding the property chain and without having to go through the procedure that requires the signing and the accord from everyone,” PM Rama said, adding that the package will provide adequate support for everyone wishing to transform their private family homes into agritourism businesses so that they can earn a lot more than they earn working abroad.

The government head noted that the support package will allow economy to strengthen further thanks to tourism and the millions of tourists, who are heading to Albania.

“More than 10 million foreign tourists visited Albania last year, which is translated into more revenue, more consumption, more activity along the entire production chain,” PM Rama said.

Theth is a charming village located in the heart of the Albanian Alps. Nowadays, it is becoming more famous among visitors as a destination still unspoiled and if you’re seeking a quiet place, want to disconnect, enjoy a few days in nature, and relax, this is a perfect spot to do so. The area offers nice accommodation spots, traditional cottages, but also more modern huts if you want to treat yourself.

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Alibeaj and the mayoral candidate Roland Bejko revealed their program for Tirana in the next four years.

“The importance of the local elections for the Democratic Party and Tirana in particular has been clearly stated. Although I acknowledge the situation is complicated for the DP in the May 14 elections. This is the moment for the Albanian decisions to make the difference,” Alibeaj said.

He expressed confidence that DP will definitely be a governing alternative in a near future.

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The explanatory introduction of the detailed design of the new world-class facility is taking place following a voluminous work through the consultancy of Royal Haskoning DHV, an engineering consultancy firm, after having already completed all the important phases of the preliminary and feasibility studies, economic analysis of the project, engineering design, environmental studies, as well as social and archaeological assessments, starting from the location of the project in the Durrës area.

Prime Minister Edi Rama attended and addressed the consultative meeting on the project that has stirred huge interest:

“Welcome everyone! I don’t want to take up too much of your time as you examine this strategic and extremely important project not only for our country, but also the entire Southeast Europe region.

Sincerely thanking each and every one of you for coming here to attend this comparative introduction of the technical and financial nature, which, in my view, clearly shows not only interest, but also trust and I would like to assure you all that we are pretty aware either about the biases we have to face when it comes to opening up our economy and opening the doors and windows so that all those wishing to be involved in our economic developments can enjoy and be granted these opportunities, just as I would also like assure you that through facts you will all be able to see firsthand why I call them biases and not reality-based perceptions about our effort to ensure transparent processes, conduct processes with integrity that the end exactly reward those pillars that have made your companies so renowned ones, which are free competition, on the one hand, and the merit-based competition, on the other.

Of course, for us as a country, this is a process that has taken a long time. We have emerged from a past that has not been kind to us at all and three decades of our journey to try to build a modern, functional and democratic Albania and an open and competitive economy for everyone might sound an awfully long time, but it can also be considered a very short as a result of measuring the level of experience.

It is precisely for this reason that being aware that the much-needed experience is not actually on our side and therefore we have always referred to the international excellence and expertise and, in this case, an unmistakable excellence with an indisputable reputation worldwide, namely the company Royal Haskoning, which is intensively, seriously and correctly working with an admirable technical capacity and know-how and we are deeply grateful for this.

Of course, we clearly know they don’t work for free.

In the meantime, you also know that Dutch are as skilful as expensive and there’s nobody quite like them for their gift and skills to be wining merchants, but, for the sake of truth and one should acknowledge it, they fully deserve what they charge.

No regrets for paying them not cheaply.

I think this company is one of the reasons, if not the main one, and I hope it is one of the reasons, not the main one, that you confidently have come here and I want to assure you that we are very honored to have you here.

I have here the list of companies which, as the Deputy Prime Minister already noted, operate in an impressively wide area geographically and presence of the representatives of 30 companies in this field, all coming together to see firsthand and ask the necessary questions of technical and financial nature and aspects of a project like ours, simply fill us with optimism and joy.

You should all be convinced that although only one company will win the tender, this will happen as the outcome of a process that will make you return back to Albania more confidently and with more certain than you were when you came here for the first time, because we are fully aware that in order for us to build and make Albania the country our children deserve, we need the right partners with the right experience and expertise, partners that have demonstrated what they are capable of in their own countries and you all are capable.

I am concluding and I am assuring you that although you have attended a lot of presentations, consultation processes, engineers and builders, today you will actually attend a presentation and be through a unique experience.

I was really impressed when I attended the first presentation of the design and I hope they have further improved it and I was really impressed as it sounded as if a Renaissance atelier was introducing its works in Florence.

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Plans for the new port of Durrës at Porto Romano, and two dry ports in Prishtina, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, integrated with the Durrës-Prishtine railway, in addition to further strengthening the cooperation between the three countries, are expected to turn Durres into one of the main strategic gates of the Mediterranean economy.

An international tender for construction of Albania’s largest seaport is scheduled to be launched by beginning of next year and construction work is set to kick off within 2023

Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the project presentation ceremony and delivered a speech:

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First of all, I would like to extend my greetings to the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, and the North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski, who both were unable to attend this ceremony due to other domestic commitments. And normally in the case of Kosovo’s Prime Minister you can guess that his absence is related to the pressing domestic commitments because of the most recent tense situation in northern Kosovo, a situation in which the government of the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Kosovo enjoy full solidarity and support of our government and the Republic of Albania.

On the other hand, I would like to thank the Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Artan Grubi, and Kosovo’s Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu for joining us at this crucial stage of the process for construction of the new commercial seaport in Durres and, moreover I think that neither our friends around this table nor the diplomatic corps representatives would take offence, because before I greet and thank all the representatives of the countries interested in this project, I would like to express special thanks and gratitude to the master behind this design, Erik Oostwegel, who has again travelled from the Netherlands and who, for the sake of truth has enlighten our way and has lead us on this path through is unique and unparalleled skills and competence that best embody the universally known experience, expertise and know-how of the Royal Haskoning firm and this makes us be entirely sure that just like the old Roman Empire-era saying that “all roads lead to Rome”, thanks to Erik the team of  Dutch engineers and analysts of Royal Haskoning, all roads of the Western Balkans will lead to Durres.

Over the centuries, the coastal city of Durres has been described as “Dyrrhachium Adria e Taberna”- or the The Adriatic Tavern” and has been considered a very important crossroad also thanks to the ancient Via Egnatia, which connected the Roman Empire with the Constantinople and which turned Durres into the then most important harbour on this side of the Mediterranean, a position that Durres held until early Middle Ages and after establishment of the state of Arber.

It is our ambition that the new Durres cargo port becomes precisely the strategic crossroad of the commercial shipment of goods with the West and every other state beyond the Western side, the whole Western Balkans.

The Western Balkans, all our countries in the region that came together at the historic EU-Western Balkans Summit on December 6, stand no other chance but take the volume of their trade exchanges to a whole new level and Durres, which starting with integration of Kosovo and North Macedonia through Prishtina and Struga and further extend to other countries, will give a completely new face and totally a different capacity to handle and process new larger trade volumes.

On the other hand, this is a port that takes regional cooperation to a whole new level and it is for this reason that we launched this process in tandem, primarily with Kosovo, and just like  on one side we have kicked off work on the new railway project, on the other hand the Albanian government has also financially supported the feasibility study on Prishtina’s Dry Port project, but in the meantime we have been working to convince the European Union to finally include the Corridor 8 project, which for reasons we can’t elaborate today has been frozen for decades now, and has now been granted the status part of the European infrastructure, so that we can also press ahead with the Skopje Dry Port project too.

The new commercial port, which is designed to triple processing capacities during the project’s initial phase, which is unimaginable to happen with the existing port, and to all of those who engage in an absurd and politically intentional debate and just like it is the case with every politically intentional issues, with politics distorting facts for reasons of its irrationality, we are here to tell you all today that not only we didn’t chaotically rushed to shut down the existing commercial port to build a tourist port, but the fact and the confidence that the new commercial port will be ready soon made us very confident  and through the project designed to transform the existing port into a tourist port, and if we are to look at the first stage of the new tourist port set to kick off in a matter of few weeks, that phase will take place in a space that affects no commercial activity of the existing port and both projects are designed to fully combine work on construction of the new tourist harbour and the commercial port.

Another important issue is the 100% contracts guarantee with all the existing operators. Their contracts are fully guaranteed. It is all about just relocation of the activities from a site to another, but legal operations of the operators won’t be hampered.

Many have speculated about the excessive amounts allegedly totalling in billions and other surreal stories over the alleged huge costs of the port’s relocation operation “just for the sake of Arabs,” but as the company’s study clearly showed the initial phase, namely the construction of the new replacing commercial port is worth EUR 390 million, a completely reasonable amount, with 46 % of the investment value to be covered by the Albanian government and 54% of this value will be covered by the company that will win the international tender.

And as you might have already noticed, Erik mentioned “a dirty” word during his presentation, namely the public-private-partnership or PPP, which will be the case with this project too.

The PPP contracts are neither criminal actions, nor corruption formulas, but they are economic formulas, which when certainly conducted in a transparent way and in the public’s interest, they work best to the benefit of the public. But when such contracts are finalized like the one on operation of the scanning service of containers and other vehicles in all customs facilities throughout Albania, it is the public that has to pay for non-existing operations.

The new port has another dimension on which we are constantly working and contacting with NATO, namely the military part which is something completely different from the project on which work will begin soon and therefore we need to make sure that the company that will take over the port’s construction meets all the standards and the most sophisticated international criteria, making also sure that it comes from a non-hostile country to the Euro-Atlantic Alliance.

To conclude, I would like to underline that we are doing precisely what other countries have already done in turning the old port into an asset of high economic value by relocating the harbour outside the city and with it relocating goods, coal, cement, chrome, acoustic pollution and environmental pollution from the city’s centre and allowing the centre of the city experience amazing development.

The port project is projected to have an estimated annual impact of around 1.2% to 1.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and a project that is expected to generate around EUR 8 billion for the mainstream economy during the first decade alone.

You already come across the impressive figures provided by Erik about the new commercial port. Let’s acknowledge the fact that Royal Haskoning and Dutch experts are the best when it comes to delivering such projects, because they are the most tight-fisted in Europe and thanks to their deficiency in liberality they now enjoy the status of the most successful merchants in Europe.

The Minister already announced that a transparent forum will be held in January and it will bring together Dutch experts and Albanian authorities to explain entire project to the companies and answer to all their questions and offer valuable suggestions so that the document on the international tender is totally open, friendly and inviting document for all the companies wishing to take part in this project, the most important one for Europe’s port infrastructure in the future.

This is a port of great strategic importance for the economy and security. Let’s not forget that the port will be located adjacent to an economic zone of about 60 hectares with an interest in the port’s cargo handling and shipment operations and investments.

I would beg everyone to prepare best for the international tender and let the best win and we stand no chance of changing the winner as Dutch experts working with us on this project wouldn’t allow us to do so.

Thank you very much!

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