Bank of Albania Deputy Governor Natasha Ahmetaj says the 2027 draft budget maintains fiscal consolidation. She told Parliament’s Economy, Employment and Finance Committee that the plan supports public finances and creates room for investment.
Ahmetaj said economic activity, private-sector employment and wages have grown in recent years. Inflation remains low and close to the central bank’s target. External debt, public debt and budget and current account deficits stand at their lowest levels in two decades, she added.
However, she warned that geopolitical tensions, rising global prices and domestic social tensions pose risks to inflation and economic growth. She said further reforms must address structural weaknesses, improve productivity and encourage investment and innovation.
The draft budget sets the deficit at 2.3% of gross domestic product and continues the downward path of public debt. Ahmetaj also said the new tax package aims to broaden the revenue base and reduce informality.
Democratic Party lawmaker Enno Bozdo criticised the draft, arguing that it lacks concrete measures to address emigration and population decline. Citing central bank reports for 2024 and 2025, he said Albania loses an average of 50,000 residents annually through emigration. He also raised concerns about public-sector wage policies and labour shortages.
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