TIRANA, March 22 – Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the reactivation of the Transparency Board to address rising fuel prices. He linked the increase to the situation in the Middle East. He spoke at the Socialist Party’s National Assembly. He said recent attacks have directly affected fuel markets.

Rama said every crisis, even distant ones, affects Albania. He pointed to the impact of the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Tehran. He said the situation has pushed up prices at fuel stations. He warned that fuel prices will likely rise further.

The government has activated the Transparency Board, a mechanism used in previous crises. Rama said authorities will also cut the fuel excise tax by 20% whenever prices exceed the 220 lek threshold. The measure will apply daily once the cap is breached.

Rama said authorities do not yet see spillover effects on other prices. He stressed that public debt and the deficit remain under control and relatively low. He said this allows the government to support vulnerable groups. He added that pensioners remain the top priority. He said the government will act to protect them from the impact of rising prices.

/a.p./