"It's impossible to live with dignity in Albania," the economic assistance payment is as low as one-third of the calculated minimum subsistence level

 Source: A2CNN

 The economic assistance a family in Albania receives is about one-third of the minimum subsistence level. The monthly payment provided this year for a poor family averages 5,866 lekë, while the calculated value that an individual needs to have each month to live with dignity is 17,875 lekë.

"So they can't make ends meet. You see more than us where things are headed and you interview people. A sum needs to be determined that allows them to live with the absolute minimum," said Suzana Guxholli, an expert in economics, local media say.

Despite the data indicating economic growth that has produced a "superlek" that has outperformed other currencies, Albania is among the few countries in Europe and the world that has not yet legally defined the minimum subsistence level.

"The Constitution of the Republic of Albania requires the determination of a minimum value to support the provision of economic assistance, pensions, or other disability payments."

Data from the Ministry of Finance and Economy shows that around 64,000 families were assisted through an economic fund of 1.5 billion lekë in the first quarter. During the same time period in the previous year, approximately 5.3 billion lekë were distributed to around 62,000 families.