Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation Enkelejd Musabelliu made the statement during a session of the Parliamentary Committee on Economy, Employment and Finance, when asked about the possibility of establishing a domestic stock exchange.

“Upon joining the European Union and integrating into the single market, it would be more advisable for certain Albanian companies wishing to list to leverage the European single market and list on one of the exchanges operating within it; this contrasts with the experience in most countries in the region, where attempts to list on local exchanges have yielded no significant results,” Musabelliu said.

Musabelliu argued that market size is a decisive factor for the functioning of a stock exchange, citing the experience of countries in the region where, according to him, local exchanges have struggled to operate effectively and failed to achieve the expected impact regarding company listings.

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Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation Enkelejd Musabelliu stated in an interview for ATA that EU membership must necessarily be accompanied by a structural transformation of the business itself, as a condition for competition and sustainable functioning in a market with unified rules.

According to Musabelliu, the first essential element is related to business capacities.

“EU integration means that business must have the necessary resources to compete and operate in the single European market,” he emphasized, underlining that this includes not only size or capital, but also the method of organization, management and access to the market.

According to the deputy minister, the fulfillment of production and operation standards is of same significance. Albanian businesses, especially those that do not currently export to the EU, will have to raise their standards to be functional in the European single market.

“There will not be two different realities, one for Albania and one for the EU. EU rules will apply here, as well,” explained Musabelliu, underlining that membership implies a single market with the same requirements.

In this context, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation has begun work on drafting a national program to prepare Albanian businesses for the European single market.

The deputy minister emphasized that Albania is not starting this process now, recalling that for about three decades the country has been working to approximate legislation with that of the EU.

An important role in this process, according to Musabelliu, is also played by CEFTA, which serves as a preparatory exercise towards the European common market.

“One of the most important issues that is expected to advance is the recognition of product conformity, which means avoiding re-certification in the EU for products certified in Albania”, he stated.

Regarding support from the European Union, Musabelliu explained that the EU offers a series of financial schemes for business, especially in the fields of digitalization, innovation and energy efficiency, but for which the businesses apply directly by themselves. /j.p/p.s./

He stated that, “The Mountain Package is a government initiative, which aims primarily at the development of mountain areas”.

This package, he emphasized, “aims at the transfer of state property to all persons who are recognized as non-factual possessors, based on the provisions of other sectoral legislation”.

Musabelliu emphasized that, “There will be the municipalities that will declare priority areas for the development of the mountain economy, which they will propose to the Minister of Local Government and will be approved by the government”.

Regarding property rights, Musabelliu said that, “The properties that can be transferred through this law must meet certain criteria. They must first of all be state property. And they must not be properties in service of the Armed Forces”.

Chairwoman of the Committee on European Affairs Jorida Tabaku stated that she is in principle against laws that have a closed competition, i.e. without competition.

After discussions, the Committee approved the draft law “Mountains Package” only with the votes of the ruling majority. /j.p/p.s./