According to the letter, published by the Democratic Party’s press office, the association argues that the territorial reorganisation process is being conducted unilaterally, without proper consultation with citizens or consideration of the views of local councillors.

According to the association, 15 municipalities risk being merged or having their boundaries changed, while residents and elected local representatives have been left out of a process that directly affects the organisation of local government and the interests of communities.

The association has called on the Council of Europe and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities to respond and intervene before the proposed changes are approved by Parliament, arguing that it would be more difficult to prevent potential harm to communities once the changes have received parliamentary approval.

In the letter addressed to the European institutions, the association also presents evidence that it says demonstrates that citizens and local councillors have been excluded from the process in the 15 municipalities affected by the reorganisation.

The association warns that the issue concerns not only the interests of residents in these municipalities, but also compliance with European standards and principles of local democracy.

The association argues that local government boundaries cannot be changed without meaningful consultation with the communities affected and without respecting Albania’s constitutional framework and international commitments.

Against this backdrop, the appeal to the Council of Europe institutions is a call for them to intervene before Parliament makes a final decision, in order to prevent the changes from becoming a fait accompli.

According to the association, approving such a reorganisation without proper consultation would undermine not only the interests of local communities, but also Albania’s credibility in upholding European principles of local self-government.

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