TIRANA, April 8 – Albania faces economic challenges due to the conflict in the Middle East, said Anila Denaj, chair of the Parliamentary Committee for Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development. Speaking on the “Trialog” program on RTSH, she said the government is ready to protect consumers and maintain macroeconomic stability, as it did during the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Denaj highlighted lessons from past crises. She recalled 2020 and the start of the Ukraine war, when the government acted under total uncertainty. Energy and fuel prices rose, but officials avoided price hikes and even reduced energy costs. The country still recorded revenue growth despite these challenges.

The government has already taken legal steps to address new risks from the Middle East. Officials cut excise duties by 20% on a set cap. Denaj said the Transparency Board has been reinstated to monitor prices without harsh market intervention.

She rejected calls for major changes to the fiscal package. Denaj stressed the state budget cannot change for every crisis, as this would endanger financial stability. Early signs of rising prices are visible, she said, but the government monitors developments closely and will act with measured interventions if needed.

/a.p./