LEGAL ALERT

Albania Introduces the European Company (SE) into Its Corporate Law

WHAT CHANGED

Law No. 78/2026 creates an Albanian statutory regime for the European Company (SE). An SE registered with the National Business Centre is a joint-stock company with legal personality and minimum subscribed capital of EUR 120,000; its registered office and central administration must be in Albania.

The law governs formation, cross-border transfer of the registered office, mergers, holding-SE and conversion routes, governance, employee involvement, creditor and shareholder protection, accounts and dissolution. The national regime is repealed on EU accession.

WHO IS AFFECTED

Foreign groups with, or contemplating, Albanian operations — particularly those already using or considering an SE elsewhere in Europe. Also relevant to Albanian companies contemplating cross-border merger or restructuring, and to any client weighing corporate form for a multi-jurisdiction structure.

WHAT TO DO

• Do not add the SE to the standard menu of Albanian corporate forms until the conditions for its use, and its interaction with Law No. 9901/2008, are established from the text.
• Groups already operating an SE elsewhere should review whether an Albanian establishment can now be structured within it.
• Note the employee involvement dimension: the SE regime in EU law is inseparable from negotiated employee participation arrangements, which have no close analogue in current Albanian practice.