A total of 773 families in 21 municipalities across Kosovo will benefit from the Adequate Social Housing Project, which includes the construction, reconstruction and renovation of homes for families in need.

Fitore Pacolli, acting Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, announced that the project is worth €37 million.

Pacolli described the initiative as the largest public investment made to date in the field of social housing in Kosovo.

She announced that the project will cover 21 municipalities, with 773 families set to benefit.

Pacolli said she presented the Adequate Social Housing Project together with Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Minister Andin Hoti.

According to her, the signing of cooperation memorandums with the beneficiary municipalities will begin on Monday, while implementation of the project will start immediately.

The acting minister stressed that through this initiative, the state will support citizens who are most in need, describing the project as an investment in dignity, security and well-being.

Pacolli said the aim is to create social policies that put citizens at the center and ensure that no one is left behind.

The post Pacolli: €37 million investment in social housing, 773 families to benefit appeared first on Albeu.com.

Një total prej 773 familjesh në 21 komuna të Kosovës do të përfitojë nga Projekti i Banimit Social Adekuat, që përfshin ndërtimin, rindërtimin dhe rinovimin e banesave për familjet në nevojë.

Ministrja në detyrë e Mjedisit, Planifikimit Hapësinor dhe Infrastrukturës, Fitore Pacolli, bëri të ditur se vlera e projektit arrin në 37 milionë euro.

Pacolli e cilësoi këtë nismë si investimin më të madh publik të realizuar deri tani në fushën e banimit social në Kosovë.

Ajo njoftoi se projekti do të shtrihet në 21 komuna, ndërsa përfitues do të jenë 773 familje.

Projektin e Banimit Social Adekuat, Pacolli tha se e prezantoi së bashku me Kryeministrin Albin Kurti dhe Ministrin Andin Hoti.

Sipas saj, nga e hëna do të fillojë nënshkrimi i memorandumeve të bashkëpunimit me komunat përfituese, ndërsa zbatimi i projektit do të nisë menjëherë.

Ministrja në detyrë theksoi se përmes kësaj nisme shteti do të mbështesë qytetarët që kanë më së shumti nevojë, duke e përkufizuar projektin si investim në dinjitet, siguri dhe mirëqenie.

Pacolli tha se synimi është krijimi i politikave sociale që e vendosin qytetarin në qendër dhe garantojnë që askush të mos mbetet pas.

The post Pacolli: Investim prej 37 milionë eurosh për banimin social, përfitojnë 773 familje appeared first on Albeu.com.

Despite its natural wealth of seas, lakes and mountains, Albania ranks among the European countries where economic deprivation is most pronounced. More than half of Albanian families cannot afford to finance a week’s holiday away from home during the year.

Eurostat data, which refer to 2025 for European countries and 2023 for Albania, show that around 53% of families in the country cannot afford the cost of a week’s holiday. At this level, Albania ranks second after Romania, where the percentage exceeds 60%.

Albania is followed by Turkey at around 51%, North Macedonia at approximately 48% and Greece at around 47%. The figures show that the inability to afford a holiday is more widespread in Southeastern Europe and in lower-income economies.

Albania is also in a worse position compared with other countries in the region. In Serbia, around 36% of families cannot afford a holiday, while in Bulgaria and Hungary this figure is approximately 39%. In Italy, the level is around 36%, while in Portugal, Croatia and Spain it ranges from 32% to 33%.

In the European Union, the average stands at around 27%, almost half the level recorded in Albania. This means that, proportionally, the inability to pay for a week’s holiday affects roughly twice as many Albanian families as families in the EU.

The gap is even wider in higher-income countries. In Germany and Ireland, around one in five families cannot afford a week’s holiday, while in the Netherlands and Sweden the figure falls to around 12-13%.

The lowest levels are recorded in Switzerland and Norway, where fewer than 10% of families cannot afford to pay for a week’s holiday. In Luxembourg, the figure is around 11%.

Albania’s ranking is linked to low household incomes and limited capacity for non-essential spending. Most of the household budget is spent on food, housing, energy and transport.

Although holidays are not classified as a basic expense, the inability to afford them serves as an important indicator of living standards and material deprivation.

Eurostat does not measure the number of people who have actually travelled for a holiday, but assesses whether a household has the financial means to spend a week away from home. The trip may be taken within the country or abroad.

A family that chooses not to travel for personal reasons is not automatically classified as deprived.

The post Eurostat: Albania Ranks Second in Europe for Families Unable to Afford a Week’s Holiday appeared first on Albeu.com.

Residents of Prrenjas have expressed their opposition to the new territorial project that foresees the merging of their municipality with that of Librazhd. They have come together in an Alliance for the Protection of the Municipality, mobilizing a broad spectrum of the community.

This movement has been joined by well-known figures from the area, including intellectuals, businesspeople, farmers, and young people. The group has immediately begun work on preparing a detailed document, which will serve as an argument to defend Prrenjas’s current autonomy as a separate municipality.

The plan is for this draft to be finalized during the month of September and then submitted to the Parliamentary Commission for Territorial Reform, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Albanian Parliament, as well as international organizations.

According to the initiators, the document will be based on a series of arguments related to the region’s economic strength, the natural resources it possesses, as well as its rich historical and cultural heritage. All these elements, they emphasize, justify keeping Prrenjas as an independent administrative unit.

The first meeting of the Alliance was characterized by massive participation of the population. During the meeting, the organizers emphasized the fact that the initiative will remain free from any partisan influence. They described this effort as a deeply civic cause, closely linked to the local identity and the perspective of economic, social, and cultural development of Prrenjas.

The post Prrenjas Residents Voice Opposition to Merger with Librazhd Municipality appeared first on Albeu.com.

Osman Stafa went to the Social Home in Shkozë, where the elderly woman and her son had been staying since the previous evening. He highlighted the inadequate conditions of this shelter, while the mother confessed she would be better off in her own apartment, which had just flooded.

During the conversation, she clarified that on Thursday she had not taken part in the protest, but was returning from Kamza with her son whom she was taking to a therapy session. Due to the road being blocked, she ended up by chance in front of Parliament, where they sprayed pepper in her eyes. She explained that her attendance at other gatherings was driven by her personal circumstances.

Stafa revealed that the 19-year-old son does not benefit from the doubling of social assistance mentioned by the prime minister. The current legislation provides this support only for children from birth to 18 years old, so the young man remains outside the scheme. “The prime minister has lied,” the journalist emphasized.

Asked about Rama’s statement, the mother asked that her son not be used for political rhetoric and added that the prime minister should face her. Stafa called it a shame that the boy was treated with violence and pepper spray, and invited Rama to come see their condition for himself.

During the meeting, the journalist informed her that Albanian citizens had raised 120,000 euros to help the family. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart!” the elderly woman expressed.

The report concluded with Stafa’s comment: “I don’t know how one can lie so openly, but when lying becomes a habit, you start believing it as the truth – and that is the end of a man.”

The post Mother of autistic youth hits back at Rama: I was at Parliament by chance while taking my son to therapy / Stafa: Aid doubling excludes 19-year-old, only for ages 0–18 appeared first on Albeu.com.

A powerful storm accompanied by torrential rain, strong winds, and hail has struck Elbasan, leaving visible consequences both in the city and in several villages of the administrative unit.

Initial reports from civil emergency structures in Elbasan Municipality indicate that the furious wind has toppled and damaged ornamental trees, while many commercial activity tents have been destroyed and flower pots have fallen from building terraces, endangering citizens moving on the streets.

The heavy rainfall has caused flooding in basements and on several main roads in Elbasan. At the same time, part of the sewage system was unable to absorb the large volume of water, malfunctioning for a short period and hindering the drainage process.

In agricultural areas, the hail has caused damage to several crops. According to preliminary assessments, the greatest impact has been on parcels cultivated with tobacco, where yields have been significantly affected.

Civil emergency teams have immediately begun field inspections to document all the consequences of the severe weather. Emergency service units have been mobilized to clean the streets, remove fallen trees, and restore normalcy to the hardest-hit areas.

Local officials are urging residents to move with increased caution, as unstable atmospheric conditions may bring further problems in the coming hours.

The post Powerful Rain and Hail Hit Elbasan, Damage Reported in Urban and Rural Areas appeared first on Albeu.com.

The first meeting of the prefect’s advisory body highlighted the urgent needs for social protection in the county. The mayors of Pogradec and Kolonja submitted the request for the establishment of specialized centers for children with autism or Down syndrome, as well as for people with mental health disorders and disabilities.

The mayor of Pogradec, Ilir Xhakolli, described the need for a residential facility for the elderly at the county level as urgent. According to him, two separate buildings are needed: one for the care of people with disabilities and the other for the elderly. “A nursing home is needed for the entire county, to give parents security about their children’s future. There are elderly people who live alone and risk being completely forgotten. This cannot be supported by volunteers alone but requires proper structures. If the private sector can do this, why not the state as well?” he said.

For her part, prefect Florinda Zegullaj announced that the municipalities have proposed concrete solutions to improve social services. One idea is the creation of a joint-stock company where all six local units of the county would participate, with the aim of covering these services. Also, an appeal has been made to the government for investments in the refurbishment of existing buildings, considering that the number of cases is increasing and services are insufficient. The creation of special institutions for the elderly and individuals who are unable to integrate into society was also requested.

Throughout the southeastern part of the country, specialized centers are lacking, so local authorities are calling for immediate intervention from the government. They argue that requests for social assistance are increasing year by year, making it essential to create regional structures that provide long-term care for people with disabilities, the elderly, and children with special needs.

The post From Korça, call for the establishment of centers for the elderly and people with disabilities appeared first on Albeu.com.

On Tuesday evening, at the height of the tourist season, the coastal city of Vlora was hit by a powerful storm.

Strong winds and lightning swept through the city, prompting beachgoers to hurriedly leave the beaches.

The post Powerful Storm Hits Vlora, Beachgoers Quickly Abandon Beaches appeared first on Albeu.com.

The lakeside city of Pogradec is experiencing one of its best summer seasons, according to official figures, turning into a hotspot for Albanian and foreign visitors. July saw a marked increase in visits, driven mainly by the clean mountain air, quality services, and well-maintained public areas.

Visitors are expressing high satisfaction with the conditions offered, particularly highlighting cleanliness, beaches, and infrastructure improvements. “We choose Pogradec for its microclimate. The cleanliness is very good, and we come regularly. There is always room for improvement, but it remains a very frequented city. The municipality has also done a good job with the arrangement of umbrellas,” says a vacationer.

Others add: “Overall the conditions are good. Now it’s hard to find free spots, there are many vacationers.” Another, with two decades of experience at this destination, notes: “I’ve been coming to Pogradec for 20 years and the city has changed a lot. The beach is very good, as well as cleanliness and the umbrellas.”

Meanwhile, the Director of Tourism in the Municipality of Pogradec, Ledian Zeqollari, emphasizes that the city is no longer just a lakeside escape. The appeal now extends to historical, cultural, and nature tourism. “We are observing a very positive trend. Visitors are showing interest in the Lin Basilica, the city of Pogradec itself, and other attractions. We are at the peak of the season and expect the highest influx in August. We have tourists from the USA, France, Germany, Czechia, and Poland, who are oriented toward nature tourism. Interest has also grown significantly in historical and culinary aspects,” explains Zeqollari.

Pogradec thus continues to maintain its status as one of the most coveted summer destinations in southeastern Albania, thanks to its combination of lake, favorable temperatures, beach spaces, and affordable costs.

The post Pogradec, overflowing with vacationers: The lake and cool climate remain a magnet for tourists appeared first on Albeu.com.

Potholes have appeared on the new roadbed, which had been prepared for paving, hindering vehicle traffic. Drivers say that for at least three months they have seen neither construction machinery nor workers carrying out other services on this road.

The Albanian Road Authority approved the project to build the Qafë Buall-Krastë road at a total value of €11 million. Reconstruction began two years ago and, according to the project, was due to be completed in April 2025.

The post Construction and Maintenance Halted on Qafë Buall-Krastë Road, Companies Seek Additional Funding appeared first on Albeu.com.