Pensions:agreement helping Italians and Albanians is law

Good news for Italians and Albanians who worked in the two countries. That is 550,000 Albanian citizens and 20,000 Italian citizens.

The Senate of the Italian Republic gave final approval to the agreement on pensions between Rome and Tirana, signed on February 6, 2024 between Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Albanian Minister Igli Hasani . 

It allows both Italians who have worked in Albania and Albanians who have worked in Italy to reconcile contributions made in the two countries and have access to a pension. This was not possible before. 

The agreement will especially help those who do not have the minimum contributions required to obtain a pension,20 years in Italy and 15 years in Albania. Cumulating contribution periods from the two countries will prevent years of work from being lost on either side. 

As of July 6, those who have worked in the two countries, both those who retired before 2024 and those who are close to retirement age, can apply to the National Social Security Institute of Italy (INPS) and the Institute that deals with pensions in Albania to combine contributions made in the two countries. 

The agreement also applies to employees of self-employed small businesses and family businesses. The agreement covers workers who have been subject to the legislation of one or both states, their family members and survivors, refugees and stateless persons residing in Italian or Albanian territory. 

Under the agreement, Albanians residing in Italy will benefit from compulsory general insurance for disability pensions, old-age pensions , special treatment for self-employed workers such as artisans, traders and farmers, and will have insurance for sickness benefits, including tuberculosis and childbirth and unemployment insurance. The costs of the agreement are estimated at €12 million for the year 2025, €13.6 million for the year 2026, €13.1 million for the year 2027, €15.1 million for the year 2028, €17 million for the year 2029, €19.3 million for the year 2030, €21.3 million for the year 2031, and €23.4 million annually from the year 2032.