Albania risks losing $10.8 million in support from the United States this year as a result of President Donald Trump's order to suspend foreign aid.
Most of this money, according to data from the US Department of State, is planned to go to strengthening democracy, good governance and human rights. In the last five years, Albania has received over 76 million euros in aid, 38.5 million of which it benefited from last year alone, writes A2.
The Special Prosecution Office Against Organized Crime and Corruption is among the institutions that has benefited from a significant portion of the funds, support which was planned to continue this year. Of the approximately 2.3 billion lek in total that SPAK's budget is this year, 700 million lek or 29.5% of the total is foreign funding. Money from "across the Atlantic" occupies a considerable share.
In fact, all institutions of the justice system benefit from foreign funding, including the General Prosecutor's Office, the High Judicial Council, the Prosecutor's Office, the Constitutional Court, and the School of Magistrates. At least for the time being, American financial support will not be limited to these institutions.
On Wednesday, the US Embassy in Tirana sent a diplomatic note to all Albanian institutions, announcing the immediate suspension of support and funding, until a second review. The list of institutions whose funds are being suspended includes ministries, municipalities, Parliament, and the National Agency for the Information Society and Security.
Albania plans to receive 36.5 billion lek in support from the United States and other partner countries, including the European Union, this year. With the suspension of funds from America, institutions must currently use only the money allocated from the State Budget. (A2 Televizion)
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