1. Overview

    A far-reaching reform

    The Albanian Government successfully developed and is now implementing the Administrative-Territorial Reform by organizing local government into 61 municipalities. The new territorial organization aims to empower the new municipalities by enhancing their capability to provide high quality and timely services to citizens and increasing the efficiency of local governments’ resource management.

  2. Objective 1: Improving services

    Objective 1: Improving services for citizens at the local level

    The Administrative-Territorial Reform will lead to local governments’ enhanced administrative, professional, and technical efficiency to deliver modern and qualitative services for citizens. The administrative units (ex-communes) will continue to offer basic services for every citizen of the new municipalities.

  3. Objective 2: Maximizing efficiency

    Objective 2: Maximizing efficiency and good governance

    The Administrative-Territorial Reform will lead to enhanced good governance at the local and regional level; efficient service delivery and effective collection of tariffs and fees by local governments; greater ability to promote and encourage sustainable local economic development.

  4. Objective 3: Empowering local governments

    Objective 3: Empowering local and regional
    governments, citizens and communities

    The Administrative-Territorial Reform will empower local and regional governments by decentralizing more functions and competencies and allocating more public funds to them. The 61 new municipalities will have more opportunities to take part in international cooperation projects; absorb more funds from EU and other donors; and enjoy larger bargaining power vis-à-vis the central government, as well as a greater scope for inter-municipal cooperation.

  5. Stakeholders

    An inclusive reform

    The Albanian Government developed and nurtured a platform for close and meaningful cooperation among all stakeholders of the Administrative-Territorial Reform and complied with the highest standards of inclusiveness and transparency. 20,341 citizens, representatives of public institutions and independent agencies, local government, civil society, private sector, media, as well as international organizations and programs, participated in the consultation process.

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Approved Draft Law "On Local Self-Government"

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Category: News&Information
December 17, 2015 - The Assembly reconvened in plenary session and adopted with 88 votes in favor and zero abstentions, the draft law "On local self-government". Minister of State on Local Issues, Mr. Bledi Çuçi stated that this law consolidates the achievements of local government, following the recent historic administrative and territorial reform.

"The essence of the reform of local government in Albania is in accordance to the political program of the Council of Ministers, adopted by the Assembly, and it is synthesized in two strategic objectives: first, to maximize operational efficiency, including performance standards, quality service, services to citizens and  the community; secondly, to strengthen the effectiveness of democratic representation, including democratic control of the political leadership of municipalities and councils, their accountability, transparency and responsiveness towards the involvement of local communities. The overall objective of the law is to achieve a system that performs and provides services as effectively as possible, for the citizens and the community. The basic requirement is to make the reform of local government units as appropriate, primarily securing that the legislative base is meeting the challenges "- said Mr. Cuci.

The draft law "On local self-government" defines 56 local government functions altogether, among which 17 are new. This law provides a solid base for creating an autonomous system of local self-government, allowing municipalities a greater role in decision making, creating the possibility of performing more effectively with respective competences, strengthening and structuring the legal regulations and creating the conditions for increased participation of women in local government. It also covers all aspects of the organization of local self-government and is in full compliance with the European Charter of Local Self-Government, being evaluated as such by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

The head of the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party, Mr. Bashkim Fino stated that the bill provides a deeper decentralization of the local government.  Mr. Fino confirmed that the law was drafted in cooperation with international partners and after a series of roundtables, including consultation with the public and elected local officials.

During discussions on the draft law "On local self-government", before the vote in the parliament,  several Members of the Assembly stressed its importance. “This law was drafted by consensus, and as such, it serves as an instrument serving to all municipal leaders, irrespective of their political affiliations. I believe that this is a natural law, passed in this way, because all of the proposed mechanisms are positive", said Mr. Petrit Vasili, on behalf of the parliamentary group of the Socialist Movement for Integration.

The drafting of this bill was a process which included all parties, successfully led by Minister of State for Local Government, also with the contribution of the best experts in the field. The new law aims to maximize the efficiency of local self-government and to strengthen the active participation of citizens in decision making.



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