Minister Ibrahimaj Announces 5,000 ALL Summer Bonus for Pensioners and Expansion of Sovereign Guarantee for Businesses

Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of Economy and Innovation, announced following the Cabinet meeting that the government has approved a 5,000 ALL summer bonus for pensioners as part of the Normative Act amending the 2026 state budget, as well as an expansion of the sovereign guarantee scheme for businesses.
According to the minister, the summer bonus was made possible by the economy’s robust performance and a rise in state budget receipts throughout the first five months of the year. The proposal will benefit around 777,200 seniors, who receive old-age and social pensions, disability pensions, survivors’ pensions, and special financial advantages. The overall fiscal cost of the incentive is around 3.7 billion ALL, with payments beginning on July 1. Minister Ibrahimaj stated that approximately 30,000-40,000 retirees who get their pensions on July 1 will receive the bonus along with their regular pension payout.
Under the same Normative Act, the government approved the expansion of the sovereign guarantee scheme to support enterprises through the “Double Your Enterprise” program. The scheme will be available to all Albanian enterprises through the banking system beginning this month, with the average interest rate on loans backed by the national guarantee likely to be around 2%. The financial instrument aims to improve businesses’ access to funding, encourage investment, boost productivity and competitiveness, and help them comply with EU regulations.
The Council of Ministers also approved three draft laws related to industrial and intellectual property under Chapter 7 of Albania’s EU accession discussions. These include the draft laws on design, geographical markers, and copyright. According to Minister Ibrahimaj, these actions are the final steps in completing the legal framework for Chapter 7, allowing Albania to complete the chapter within the timeframe specified in the European integration process.