Albanian pensioners residing in Italy protested this Thursday in front of the Italian embassy in Tirana, expressing frustration over the slow procedures for pension recognition. They demanded the mutual recognition of pensions between the two countries.
The protesters also met with the Italian Ambassador to Tirana, Fabrizio Bucci, who assured the pensioners that everything would be resolved very quickly.
He expressed that the Italian government is fully committed to achieving this agreement.
“I must assure you that the Italian side is doing its utmost to solve this problem. We have been working to reach an agreement with the Albanian side. We are now in the final stages of agreement; a few things are left. In the coming weeks or at most in the next month, the signing of the Italian-Albanian agreement will be realized. It has been a bit difficult due to technicalities in the procedure. You have my word that the Italian side is doing its utmost. Please have some patience,” the ambassador addressed the protesters.
Meanwhile, the protesters expressed that they are living in difficult conditions.
“We live on 15,000 Albanian lek and endure harsh conditions. I’ve spent 32 years in Italy, and there I’ve witnessed humanity for everyone. The question I ask myself is, what is [Italian Prime Minister Georgia] Meloni waiting for? A signature is all it takes, and it’s done,” one pensioner stated.
“I’ve worked in Italy for 30 years and made a significant contribution to that country. I’m entitled, I should climb the steps to put bread on the table. I want both my Albanian and Italian contributions recognized, I want my dignity and sweat,” another protester said.
“We want our sweat, our effort. Rest assured we will raise our voices in front of the Italian parliament. I have the right to vote in Italy, but not in Albania? It’s shameful! We want our sweat, we’re here only for our pensions,” expressed another protester.
Albania and Italy concluded the technical negotiations for the pension agreement earlier this August.
Some 500,000 Albanians working in Italy will benefit once the agreement is approved by the parliaments of both countries.
The process for the recognition of contributions started in 2014 and is now approaching its conclusion. The matter has been a topic of negotiation for both parties for many years due to the large number of Albanian immigrants living in Italy.
Reaching this agreement has taken around 10 years by the Albanian Government. In 2016, there were 250,000 registered Albanian workers in Italy and 19,000 registered Italians in Albania.
