Transport associations warn that if they do not receive an answer about fuel compensation by the beginning of next week, operators involved in public transport will reduce the urban fleet.

for News24, their representatives say that the delay in payments for the months of March, April and May is weighing on the companies' finances. The government has approved the compensation of 50 lek per liter of fuel, but according to the operators, despite the completion of the documentation, the funds have not yet been disbursed. The National Associations of Urban and Interurban Transport have addressed the Ministry of Finance, Infrastructure and Energy, the Local Government and the Municipality of Tirana, requesting information on the reasons for the delay as well as the setting of a concrete deadline for payments. The operators say that during this period they have continued to cover the costs of the activity with their own funds, while the price of fuel remains high.

In addition to paying compensation for the past three months, they are demanding that the financial support scheme continue beyond May, as long as fuel prices remain high.

Operators say that reducing the number of urban vehicles in circulation would affect bus frequency and public transport capacity, directly affecting citizens.

They also express that they require urgent intervention for the disbursement of the approved compensation and a decision on the continuation of financial support.