TIRANA, Oct 8 /ATA/ Co-chair of the Special Commission on Administrative-Territorial Reform Arbjan Mazniku said today that the administrative-territorial reform should address not only the territorial map, but also competencies, finances and regionalisation, with the aim of strengthening municipalities’ capacities.
Responding to Socialist Party MP Erion Braçe’s objections to the proposed territorial division, Mazniku said efforts to reach a compromise with the opposition had delayed the approval of the reform package.
“We have reached a point where either this reform loses momentum and we fail to deliver it, or we move forward through the mechanism we have in place today,” Mazniku said.
Addressing local government powers, Mazniku said municipalities were unable to carry out some functions due to limited capacity, while others were not restricted by either legislation or central government.
He listed local urban planning, tourism development, social housing, social care, support for vocational education and public transport among the functions municipalities can exercise.
According to Mazniku, differences between municipalities in carrying out these functions are mainly linked to their capacities and the economic structure of their territories.
“I strongly believe that the mayor and municipal council of Divjakë want to carry out all these functions, but they are unable to do so because of the nature of their economic structure,” Mazniku said.
Mazniku also stressed the need to strengthen local government capacity to develop plans and projects, particularly to access European Union funding.
He said projects should be developed by local authorities and that municipalities need the capacity to prepare proposals that meet EU funding requirements.
Referring to the experience of countries in the region and the European Union, Mazniku said Croatia, Romania and Poland had needed several years to build local government capacity, during which they had missed funding opportunities.
“Albania does not have time to lose. Whether they are Socialists, Democrats or people from Divjakë, Lushnjë or Berat, we need to have the capacity to secure European Union funding, bring it into the country and use it to support citizens across these areas,” Mazniku said.
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