The Albanian parliamentary assembly has voted to set up a commission to deal with territorial reform, some eight years after it was initially approved by a parliamentary majority.
Territorial reform aims for the decentralisation of municipalities, the division of municipal regions and an effort to increase the cost-efficiency of local units so they can provide better services to citizens.
The assembly voted 108 in favour, paving the way for a review of the reform which divided the country into 61 municipalities and abolished the concept of rural komuna. These have now mainly become administrative units, or just villages or neighbourhoods.
The commission tasked with the review will have 16 members, equally divided between the ruling Socialist Party (PS) and the Democratic Party (PS) and its allies, and will function for six months.
It will be chaired by Dhurata Cupi (PD) and Anila Denaj (PS).
The review is deemed necessary as problems in decentralisation and territorial unification have been identified and require solutions. The commission’s work will include consultations with ministries, representatives of local government and elected associations, experts, civil society, and international stakeholders in the field of local governance.
The Assembly has also invited delegations from the European Union, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and other international organizations.
