Berisha: High taxes on oil and informality are harming the economy

2026-05-07 19:29:00, Politikë CNA

The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, stated that fiscal policies in the country have negatively affected the Albanian economy, during a roundtable of the Department of Economy and Finance in the Democratic Party.

Berisha said that Albania produces about 1 million tons of oil and has direct access to ports, but according to him, the final price of fuel remains high on the market. He compared the situation with North Macedonia, saying that despite the lack of production and access to the sea, the price there is lower due to lower taxes.

He also emphasized that the labor cost for a liter of diesel in Albania is several times higher than in countries like Germany and the Netherlands, describing this as a serious problem for economic competitiveness.

According to him, current fiscal policies have created a system that favors informality and hinders economic development. Berisha accused the government of contributing to the growth of corruption and market distortion.

He also focused on the pension scheme, describing informality as one of the main problems affecting its financing. According to him, reducing the social tax and reforming the fiscal system would help formalize the economy and increase investments.

Berisha stressed that the state must undertake deep economic reforms, describing the current situation as unstable and problematic.

"We produce about 1 million tons of oil, we have ports and we receive it directly at the ports, we sell it for 2.2 euros. Macedonia, without ports and without oil, sells it for 1.5 euros, because the tax that the government imposes on oil is among the highest in the world.

For a liter of diesel, the cost of labor in Albania is 8 times higher than in Germany, the Netherlands and other countries.

So, a policy has been followed that a colonial system would have coveted. These are not foreigners, they are worse than foreigners, because they have trampled on their land and are stealing their country in an unstoppable manner.

The pension scheme is the basic resource. Informality is dictated by corruption, dictated by high taxes, dictated by the entire created environment. Therefore, we are in a fierce fight against informality and will do everything to increase the collection of contributions and reduce social taxes.

"Reducing the social tax is one of the surest ways to reduce informality and promote production and investment, and so on. The state must cut the Gordian knot, this dramatic situation can no longer be accepted," Berisha said./ CNA