Minister Demo Presents Urban Renaissance 2.0 and a €65 Million Package to Modernise Local Infrastructure and Service

During a press conference, Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo outlined the government’s most recent projects, accomplishments, and objectives for local government. He also announced that a number of new projects targeted at raising the standard of public services will be introduced this week. The Minister claims that the goal is to make sure towns improve the general quality of public services rather than just dealing with day-to-day issues. The Urban Renaissance 2.0 initiative, which intends to change public services and municipal infrastructure between 2027 and 2029, is at the core of this strategy.
The program, which aims to modernize municipalities and bring them into compliance with EU norms, will be fully funded and carried out in collaboration with local self-government entities. The new strategy, according to Minister Demo, envisions municipalities as organizations with a wider role in local economic growth, enhancing basic infrastructure, and providing public services including urban transportation, water supply, and sewage.
The Minister also declared the approval of a €65 million support package to bolster local government as part of the Normative Act that included changes to the 2026 State Budget. The financing consists of €30 million for the execution of two key programs assisting local authorities and €35 million for the improvement of basic infrastructure throughout municipalities. Of this sum, €10 million will fund a new initiative to enhance urban public transportation, and €20 million will go toward bolstering emergency logistics and infrastructure.
Minister Demo reported that the Mountain Package is now being implemented in 50 municipalities, all of which have designated priority areas for its execution. Approximately 9,000 applications have been filed worldwide thus far, and four municipalities have already authorized development permits and started the implementation process. The initiative’s goal, according to the Minister, is to support sustainable economic development and investment in Albania’s mountainous regions.