TIRANA, Oct 8 /ATA/ The co-chair of the Special Commission on Administrative-Territorial Reform, Arbjan Mazniku, said in Parliament on Thursday that the merger of municipalities would improve service delivery for citizens.
Speaking about the proposed new territorial map, which envisages reducing the number of municipalities from 61 to 45, Mazniku said that the aim of the reform is to improve services for citizens.
Mazniku said that the 2014 reform was a success, as it strengthened municipalities, increased revenues, reduced debt and boosted the investment capacity of local government units.
“When we merge, we become stronger. You told people that their municipalities would disappear, that they would be dissolved. People do not live on a map; they live in their homes, where they want roads and water to reach them. People live in their neighbourhoods, which they want to see cleaned and lit,” Mazniku said.
He stressed that citizens have specific needs for services in the areas where they live, including sewage systems and roads in rural areas, as well as nurseries, kindergartens and public transport in cities.
Referring to the 2014 reform, Mazniku said that during the hearings and consultations, there had been no requests to restore the previous administrative division.
Mazniku said the 2014 territorial reform was considered a success during consultations, as it strengthened municipalities financially and administratively. However, he argued that further reform is needed to improve public service delivery.
“This is insufficient to meet the Socialist Party’s aspirations for how citizens are served across the country. This is the reason why we need to move forward,” Mazniku said.
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