Delina Ibrahimaj spoke to the media this Wednesday after the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Albania, outlining the key topics discussed during the session.
Ibrahimaj stated that the government discussed and approved a draft law on the provision of services in the country, emphasizing that the legislation is very important for European Union integration. She also addressed the increase in fuel prices, which she said was caused by the conflict in the Middle East, adding that authorities are monitoring the situation on a daily basis.
“At the government meeting we discussed and approved the draft law on services related to the freedom of establishment and the provision of services in our country. This is a draft law connected to the process and obligations we have regarding EU membership. The Ministry of Economy and Innovation is responsible for 16 chapters of the EU integration process and leads seven of them.
We are committed to approving around 20 laws during 2026 alone that are related to the integration process.
The law we approved is very important because it addresses one of the four freedoms of operation of the EU: the free movement of goods, services, capital and people, with this law specifically relating to the freedom to provide services. It guarantees that Albania will apply the same rules used in the EU, making it easier for businesses operating in the services sector to enter the Albanian market. It also ensures that there will be no discrimination between Albanian and foreign companies.
With EU membership, all Albanian companies that provide services will be able to enter the EU freely without the need for licenses or authorizations. These are the aspects regulated by this draft law, which is one of the main benchmarks of Chapter 3, planned to be completed within 2026.
We also discussed the economic situation in the country, specifically fuel prices.
We held a meeting with the main fuel traders and the Hydrocarbons Association to address the rapid increase in prices during the past week, which has been influenced by the crisis and the war currently taking place in the Middle East.
We discussed their obligation to maintain reserves so that the country never enters an emergency situation. We are monitoring daily both the international market prices for oil, gasoline and gas entering the country, as well as the price at which fuel leaves customs and the price displayed at fuel stations when it goes on sale,” the minister stated.
