Italy-Albania pension agreement set for final approval, expanding benefits for thousands
The final step for the recognition of pensions between Italy and Albania is set to be completed within weeks, pending decree approval by Italian President Sergio Mattarella. The agreement is expected to benefit around 500,000 Albanians and 4,000 Italians living across both countries. Deputy Minister of Economy Olta Manjani has outlined the process for citizens of both nations to claim their pensions.
Why is this important: The agreement allows Albanian and Italian citizens to combine their years of contributions in both countries to qualify for pensions. The data exchange between the Albanian Social Security Institute (ISSH) and Italy’s INPS will be automatic, reducing administrative costs. This ensures that thousands of workers who previously did not meet the minimum contribution years can now claim their rightful pensions.
Context: One of the key provisions of the agreement is the exportability of benefits, meaning that pensions accrued in one country can be transferred to the country of residence without additional paperwork.
“An Albanian citizen living and working in Italy can apply for a pension directly in Italy, and the data exchange will occur automatically between institutions,” explained Olta Manjani.
“This process eliminates the need for translation and notarization, making the procedure much more efficient.”
The minimum required years to qualify for a pension differ between the two countries: Albania requires 15 years, while Italy requires 20.
“If an Albanian worker has 14 years of contributions in Albania and 19 years in Italy, despite having a total of 33 years, they currently don’t qualify for a pension in either country. Under this agreement, 14 years will be counted under the Albanian scheme and 19 under the Italian system, allowing them to receive pensions from both,” Manjani clarified.
What else: After securing the agreement with Italy, the Albanian government is prioritizing a similar deal with Greece, where technical meetings have already taken place.
“We are focusing on agreements with countries that have a large Albanian diaspora. Greece is one of them, and our two systems have proven to be highly compatible,” Manjani stated.
Additionally, Albania is set to finalize pension agreements with Montenegro, Croatia, Bulgaria, Poland, and Serbia. Currently, Albania has pension recognition agreements with 13 countries.
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