Pension agreement with Italy/Here's how many Albanians benefit

2025-03-19 18:58:00, Sociale CNA

The pension agreement signed with Albania will cost the Italian budget 12 million euros in the first year of implementation and 1,387 people are expected to benefit.

The details are specified in the document submitted to the Italian Senate, which was also signed by Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

The law is expected to take effect in June, almost two months after its publication in the Official Gazette, and it is learned that some Albanian citizens living there have begun submitting their first applications.

Data shows that in total, by 2020, there are 433,789 Albanian citizens who have paid social security in Italy.

The document highlights that before the signing of the agreement with Albania, the number of citizens who will be treated with a pension was expected to be 4,727 people with a budget cost of 39.6 million euros, while after the signing of the agreement, this number is expected to increase to 6,114 in 2025 with a budget effect of 51.6 million euros. Therefore, it is expected that 1,387 people will be added to the scheme with a budget increase of 12 million for this year.

This also includes those persons who are treated under Law No. 189 of 2002 (Bossi-Fini Law) which gives Albanian emigrants the opportunity to benefit from a pension, but on the condition of repatriation, i.e. their return to Albania.

The number of beneficiaries is increasing, at the same time as the funds made available, which in 2032 is expected to reach 270 million euros, 23.4 million euros more.

The agreement on the recognition of contribution periods between Albania and Italy gives Albanian immigrants the opportunity to be treated with a pension in Italy and Albania at the same time.

Albania and Italy reached an agreement on the recognition of social security contributions on February 6, 2024.

The agreement was signed in Rome by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, and the Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani.

The finalization of this agreement offers many people security and a positive perspective for the future, while the parties had been negotiating for about 15 years to reach this agreement, which guarantees the rights of Albanian workers in Italy or Italian workers in Albania to pensions.

There are about 550 thousand Albanian citizens and about 4 thousand Italian citizens, the implementation of which will ensure the unification of contribution periods, making it possible for no working year to be lost. The Italian senators also appreciated the effort and contribution of Albanians in Italy, their integration into society since their arrival on the shores of Bari. /CNA