The Council of Ministers approved in today's meeting the decision on determining the amount of funding from the 2026 budget for religious communities that have signed agreements with the government.

According to the decision, the total fund reaches 203 million lekë and will be used for the financial support of the four main religious communities in the country.

Specifically, the Muslim Community of Albania benefits 57.3 million lekë, allocated for funding administrative and educational institution staff. Meanwhile, the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania benefits 48.6 million lekë, similarly distributed for administration and the education system. The same amount, 48.6 million lekë, has also been allocated to the Catholic Church in Albania, focusing on support for administrative and educational staff.

Whereas the World Bektashi Headquarters benefits 48.5 million lekë, which includes funding for administration, a contribution for the construction of the Shtufi Tekke in Gjirokastër, as well as support for its international activities. The decision stipulates that the fund be disbursed within April 2026, while the Ministry of Finance and the State Committee on Cults are tasked with implementation.

D E C I S I O N O N D E T E R M I N I N G T H E A M O U N T O F F U N D I N G I N T H E 2 0 2 6 B U D G E T F O R R E L I G I O U S C O M M U N I T I E S T H A T H A V E S I G N E D A G R E E M E N T S W I T H T H E C O U N C I L O F M I N I S T E R S

In support of Article 100 of the Constitution, Articles 2, point 2, 3, 4, point 2, 5, point 1, and 6 of Law No. 10140, dated 15.5.2009, "On the funding, from the state budget, of religious communities that have signed agreements with the Council of Ministers", and Law No. 87/2025, "On the 2026 Budget", upon the proposal of the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers

a) The Muslim Community of Albania benefits the amount of 57,300,000 (fifty-seven million three hundred thousand) lekë, divided into: i. 28,200,000 (twenty-eight million two hundred thousand) lekë, for funding at half the minimum budgetary wage for 94 (ninety-four) administrative employees; ii. 29,100,000 (twenty-nine million one hundred thousand) lekë, for funding at half the minimum budgetary wage for 97 (ninety-seven) employees of preschool, pre-university, and university education institutions.

b) The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania benefits the amount of 48,600,000 (forty-eight million six hundred thousand) lekë, divided into: i. 24,600,000 (twenty-four million six hundred thousand) lekë, for funding at half the minimum budgetary wage for 82 (eighty-two) administrative employees; ii. 24,000,000 (twenty-four million) lekë, for funding at half the minimum budgetary wage for 80 (eighty) employees of preschool, pre-university, and university education institutions.

c) The Catholic Church in Albania benefits the amount of 48,600,000 (forty-eight million six hundred thousand) lekë, divided into: i. 15,000,000 (fifteen million) lekë, for funding at half the minimum budgetary wage for 50 (fifty) administrative employees; ii. 33,600,000 (thirty-three million six hundred thousand) lekë, for funding at half the minimum budgetary wage for 112 (one hundred twelve) employees of preschool, pre-university, and university education institutions.

ç) The World Bektashi Headquarters benefits the amount of 48,500,000 (forty-eight million five hundred thousand) lekë, divided into: i. 9,000,000 (nine million) lekë, for funding up to half the minimum budgetary wage for 30 (thirty) administrative employees; ii. 28,000,000 (twenty-eight million) lekë, as a contribution to the construction of the Shtufi Tekke, Gjirokastër; iii. 11,500,000 (eleven million five hundred thousand) lekë, due to its special position, as the World Headquarters, based in Tirana, and the extension of its activities abroad, which will be used to fully or partially cover the preventive requests submitted by it in the application for 2026, according to the presented financial documentation.

This decision enters into force immediately and is published in the "Official Gazette".