6.5 billion lek for infrastructure projects - Normative Act/ Malaj: Defense financing, pension increase from July 1
The government's normative act on changes to the 2026 budget will enable the accommodation of policies with immediate economic and social impact, such as pension indexation and increased funding for startups, defense and infrastructure financing.
During the presentation of the act to the parliamentary committees, the Minister of Finance, Petrit Malaj, emphasized that the indexation of pensions by 2.7% will take effect from July 1, while next year it will take place in April.
"The urgency of this intervention is closely related to guaranteeing the timely implementation of policies with immediate economic and social impact, closely linked to established legal and budgetary deadlines. More specifically: Bringing forward the indexation of pensions with financial effect from July 1 (i.e. no longer from October 1). The plan is that next year the indexation of pensions will take place in April, as it has been before. Doubling the payment for children with disabilities with financial effect from July 1, 2026; Coverage by the state of the payment of social and health insurance contributions for caregivers of persons with disabilities, with effect from October 1, 2026 and with an annual financial cost of 2 billion lek. Ensuring the immediate financing of priority expenditures in the field of defense, in order to fulfill Albania's international commitments to NATO, during the 2026 budget year; Guaranteeing the necessary financial resources to fulfill the obligations related to the process of European integration".
According to the Minister, through the normative act, special importance is given to investments in infrastructure.
"1 billion lek additional foreign financing for projects with good performance. 6.5 billion lek additional financing for priority infrastructure investments. Of this amount, 3 billion lek will be used to create the Municipal Logistics Services Operator, with the aim of supporting municipalities with machinery, equipment and logistics."
Through this normative act, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation receives an additional 1.6 billion lek; the Ministry of Health and Social Protection an additional 3.9 billion lek; the Ministry of Defense, about 10.3 billion lek; the Ministry of Education an additional 750 million lek; the Ministry of Interior 704 million lek and SPAK 200 million lek.
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