The ambassadors of the European Union and United States have urged the parliamentary committee of inquiry and justice institutions to investigate and take action in the case of the three controversial waste incinerators awarded to private companies by the Albanian government through public-private partnership contracts.
Today, the parliament reconfirmed the term of the inquiry committee to last for three more weeks, after its Socialist members effectively blocked its work by voting against the inquiry plan and maintained that its term had ended.
The said plan foresees witness testimonies by a number of politicians, government officials, businessmen and journalists, including Prime Minister Edi Rama whom the opposition accuses as the head of the corruption affair which they estimate to be €430 million.
Jorida Tabaku, the opposition MP heading the inquiry committee, alleged that officials who have organized and managed this corruption affair constitute a “structured criminal group” – a special classification in the Albanian law, with harsher sentences for its criminal activity. She promised to have all witnesses sit and testify before the committee starting from Monday.
The confirmation of the committee’s term for three more weeks was greeted by the US and EU ambassadors.
“Strengthening democratic institutions and fighting corruption are US priorities in Albania. We welcome the extension of the parliament commission on incinerators. We urge all relevant authorities and institutions to examine and take appropriate action. We will be watching this closely. Accountability is key to democracy,” tweeted US Ambassador Yuri Kim.
“Important that the work of the Parliament Inquiry Committee on incinerators continues. Transparency and accountability are key EU principles. The fight against corruption is a top priority for the EU and for Albania on its EU integration path,” wrote EU Ambassador Luigi Soreca.
The Albanian incinerators were created from no demand, no requirement, and no official proposal. It all started with a request from a newly set up company, with no capital or experience.
The government, municipalities and other agencies approved dozens of documents within hours or days.
All three incinerators in Tirana, Elbasan and Fier were given to the same group of people, creating virtually a monopoly.
The dubious procedure was further exacerbated by the terms of the contracts, which appeared to favor the companies, to the detriment of the state. The government has been paying the concessionaires before the construction is completed – €72 million were paid from 2015 to 2020. It also has to compensate them when they do not have any waste to burn.
In December, prosecutors ordered the arrest of Lefter Koka, who faces charges in relation to his signature of a concession contract with Integrated Energy BV SPV for the construction of an incinerator in Tirana, only two weeks before leaving office in 2017.
The opposition maintains it is Prime Minister Edi Rama and his closest associates who stand behind the affair.
