Prime Minister Edi Rama, together with the Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja, and the Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj, held a meeting in Durrës with the mayors of Albania’s municipalities, where the main priorities for 2026 were discussed. The focus was on the Mountains Package, central–local government partnership, flood management, and preparations for the tourist season.

At the center of the discussions was the Mountains Package, considered a strategic instrument for the development of rural and mountainous areas, the attraction of investments, and the creation of sustainable local economies. Minister Ervin Demo emphasized that the national objective of 1,000 investments through this package can only be achieved if each municipality is proactive and fully engaged, making this initiative a real priority of daily governance.

During the past year, around 4,800 expressions of interest were registered for the Mountains Package. Following a detailed analysis conducted in four municipalities: Shkodër, Shijak, Elbasan, and Përmet—within designated priority areas, 80 concrete expressions of interest were identified. These projects can now proceed with formal applications to the respective municipalities. According to the existing legal framework and regulations, municipalities are responsible for following all approval steps for applications in priority zones.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of a new approach toward an entrepreneurial municipality, where local government should not rely solely on transfers and taxes, but instead leverage public assets and partnerships with the private sector to generate revenue and local economic development.

In conclusion, Minister Demo stressed that the tourist season and economic development are not issues affecting only coastal areas, but every municipality from north to south. Each local government unit should have its own action plan for tourism, environment, and public services, adopting a more creative, proactive, and development-oriented approach to territorial management.

“2026 calls for stronger, better-prepared, and more ambitious municipalities, in full partnership with the central government, to turn development into concrete results for citizens”, Minister Demo stated.