The event “Social Fund 2026, Guarantee for the Sustainability of Services for Citizens’ Wellbeing” was held this Wednesday, attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama and the EU Ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato.

During his speech, Rama stated that over the past decade there has been a fundamental transformation of the social support and services system, emphasizing that the budget for social assistance has increased sixfold compared to the beginning of the reform and is 17% higher than last year.

“It is a fundamental transformation of social support. Over the last decade, this effort began under very difficult conditions, with debts accumulated over many years. It was a significant burden within the mountain of inherited debts that had to be addressed through strong efforts, reforms, and persistent measures. A great deal of work was required, and the decisive innovation of the process was its extension to the local level.

I am very confident that the necessary synergy will be created with mayors to move this process forward, so that we go beyond volume and figures — which are extremely encouraging — enabling Albania to care for 65,000 individuals. These are not 65 individuals affected by a financial system, but 65,000 individuals supported by an organized institutional system, service care points, and also based on the way Albanian society functions. Our society is not yet fully westernized like Western societies, where people do not greet one another. It is important that municipalities promote the inclusion of families in the social care system.

The budget has increased sixfold since we began this effort and is 17% higher this year than last year. However, the budget does not tell the whole story; therefore, we must deepen this process, consolidate it further, and at the same time improve the quality of life under the umbrella of social care,” Rama said.