Over the span of four years, starting from 2019 to 2022, data extracted from the Albanian Ministry of Health’s monitoring reports reveals that the national budget has disbursed a sum amounting to 11.5 billion Albanian lek or approximately 112 million euros toward the baby bonus initiative.

According to the Ministry of Health’s surveillance data, a collective sum of 161,943 newborns qualified for this incentive. In relation to the total births between 2019 and 2022, as per the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) figures – amounting to 108,535 births – it follows that 33%, equating to 53,408 infants entitled to the bonus, are situated abroad.

For the interval of January through April, as confirmed by the Ministry of Health’s statistics, the baby bonus was apportioned to 12,123 infants, with the expended funds approximating 900 million Albanian lek. Comparative to the previous year, the number of eligible babies has experienced a 4% reduction. In 2022, 12,628 newborns received the bonus, with the disbursed fund corresponding to that of the 2023 period.

The baby bonus constitutes a novel governmental social measure, implemented since January 1, 2019, which extends financial aid to families through direct disbursements: 40,000 lek for the first child, 80,000 lek for the second, and 120,000 lek for the third. Irrespective of birth location, this bonus is extended to all registered children in Albania. Mothers are facilitated in accessing this support through check withdrawals.

Owing to the considerable number of eligible infants born beyond Albanian borders, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection unveiled a draft law in May for public deliberation. The draft, titled “For an Amendment and Addition to Law No. 57/2019 On Social Assistance in the Republic of Albania”, introduces alterations to Article 9, Point 1, of the legislation, thereby excluding non-resident individuals from the bonus program.

Formerly:

Article 9

Beneficiaries of immediate financial assistance (baby bonus)

1. Beneficiaries of immediate financial assistance (baby bonus) for the newborn are the parent(s) of the child.
2. The extent and procedure for providing immediate financial assistance for newborns and the manner of collaboration between hospital service institutions and civil status institutions shall be determined by a decision of the Council of Ministers.

Article 11

Non-beneficiary persons

Under this law, the following shall not benefit: a) Albanian citizens residing abroad as emigrants, except for beneficiaries under point 1 of Article 9 of this law.

Now:

Article 1

In Article 9, point 1, at the end of the sentence, the phrase “…who are residents in the Republic of Albania” is added.

Article 2

Letter “a” of Article 11 is reformulated as follows: a) “Albanian citizens who are not residents in the Republic of Albania”.