At the event “Social Fund 2026 – Guaranteeing the Sustainability of Citizen Welfare Services,” Prime Minister Edi Rama highlighted the launch of 14 new social services. These programs will support children and mothers in need, people with disabilities, the elderly, women and girls who are victims of violence, and children without parental care. Importantly, the new feature is that services now reach the local level.

Rama pointed out that the initiative began under very challenging conditions, including a debt of tens of millions of euros owed to people with disabilities and families receiving economic aid. He added, “Let us go beyond the numbers. This system touches 65,000 individuals through institutions, caregivers, and other services.”

Furthermore, he stressed the need to improve quality of life in healthcare shelters. The transformation started in Tirana at the “Zyber Hallulli” Children’s Care Home, where conditions are being upgraded. In addition, the Prime Minister emphasized that this process should expand further, creating community spaces with better facilities and opportunities.

Rama explained, “We need to deepen and consolidate this decentralization process. By improving social care shelters, we increase the quality of life for residents. Our work in Tirana with Zyber Hallulli demonstrates how a care village can operate within the city. Using this model, other municipalities can create important community spaces with improved conditions and opportunities.”

He also highlighted support from the European Commission, noting that EU engagement helped Albania develop a social strategy that stands out in the region. According to Rama, “These initiatives define quality improvements across every sector. By interacting with the EU, we access sophisticated support for social welfare. The EU maintains the most advanced network for states, public institutions, families, individuals, and vulnerable groups.”