Albania prepares to adopt the euro after EU accession

Albania is drafting a new law on the central bank that will make the euro the country’s official currency once it joins the European Union. The draft legislation, titled “For the Bank of Albania,” has been released for public consultation and for the first time includes a dedicated chapter on the transition from the lek to the euro. Economist Gentian Beqiri says joining the eurozone would eliminate exchange‑rate volatility, lower bank‑interest rates, and give Albania access to the European Central Bank system, strengthening financial stability. The bill also proposes raising the central bank’s capital from 2.5 billion to 6 billion lek and increasing the general reserve from 12.5 billion to 30 billion lek, marking a significant step toward aligning Albanian legislation with EU standards.