The project’s first phase has begun with aerial photography over 680 km² of urban terrain, establishing a higher standard for geospatial accuracy and data collection.

Operations leverage ultra-high-resolution 5 cm ground sample distance (GSD) imagery alongside LiDAR scanning at a density of 10 points per square meter.

The primary aim is updating and expanding Albania’s national Base Map to deliver precise, contemporary cartographic records.

As reported by ASIG, “The novelty of this project is the use of very high resolution technologies, 5 cm GSD, as well as LIDAR scanning with a density of 10 points/m².”

For the first time, this project uses side-angle aerial photos to build 3D city models and sharp images of urban areas. These new data tools will improve how we manage and study cities, nature and farming.

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The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu, Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja, and Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Andis Salla.

In a social media post, Koçiu said Albania was opening “a new chapter” aimed at promoting more sustainable and balanced development across the country through improved planning and investments tailored to the needs and potential of each region.

“Through a new approach, more efficient planning and investments aligned with the needs and potential of every area, we aim to respond more effectively to the country’s economic, social and urban dynamics,” she said.

Koçiu said the process would strengthen economic and social cohesion, reduce regional disparities and create greater opportunities for citizens.

“In this way, European integration will not remain merely a political objective, but will become a tangible standard of prosperity and development, felt in every region of Albania,” she added.

Gonxhja said Albania was taking an important step toward strengthening governance mechanisms for balanced territorial development.

As the highest decision-making body in the field, the National Committee for Regional Development and Cohesion will play a key role in guiding investments and development policies, while ensuring stronger inter-institutional coordination and a more effective use of the economic, tourism, cultural and social potential of each region, he said.

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports remains committed to contributing to the process through policies and programmes supporting tourism, culture and sport, with the aim of promoting sustainable development and improving citizens’ well-being, Gonxhja added.

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According to him, the debate should focus on solving concrete problems of communities and increasing efficiency in the provision of public services.

Mazniku emphasized that municipalities need more professional capacities and resources to exercise the powers assigned to them.

Mazniku assured that the special commission for this reform will take into account the sensitivities, traditions and peculiarities of each area during the reform process, with the aim of building a model that guarantees both better services and respect for local identity. /k.s/a.f/r.e/p.s./

“We are removing the changes to the Territorial Reform Commission from the agenda! Work will continue in the Special Territorial Reform Commission,” Balla said.

The Democratic Party reacted immediately through MP Luçiano Boçi, who demanded that the ruling majority must fully withdraw from the proposed changes to the Territorial Reform Commission.

“You must withdraw from the changes to the Territorial Reform Commission, not simply remove it from the agenda! Withdrawal shows will, postponement shows nothing,” said Boçi, emphasizing that the opposition considers this process as unilateral. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

The prime minister emphasized that so far there have been brought up 1463 issues, the vast majority of which are related to the occupation of public space.

Rama said that, “If these problems are addressed properly, it is an indisputable guarantee that it will bring a great relief and add a new breath of life to the capital. And we will open new perspectives for the ongoing work. Together with Tirana municipality we will work and step by step build a new mosaic of an Urban Renaissance 2.0 in these territories.”

“Thus, there are 1463 identified issues, the vast majority of which are related to the occupation of public space and affect practically the lives of all communities living in the municipality of Tirana”, emphasized Rama.

PM Rama said that, “I want to thank the Inspectorate of the Protection of the Territory of Tirana for doing intensive work and trying to address the issues in the right way. The work volume is extremely large. And the citizens have created a kind of expectation and trust and are continuously sending their complaints from all sides”.

The head of government said that, “All of them will be addressed, but they should keep in mind that it will take some time. We have a busy agenda, but we have several working groups engaged in the process”. /k.s//r.e/p.s./

“Tougher control over the territory is needed to identity and bring before justice individuals who posses firearms, wanted persons with criminal records and involved in crimes against property, illicit trafficking and trading narcotics, and prevent gender-based crimes,” Interior Minister Balla said in a statement on the social media.

Balla said he expects the State Police to introduce an efficient plan of measures designed to establish full control over territory by employing the police intelligence in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.

Interior Minister noted that the State Police should build on and further improve the results in terms of security, public order and the fight against organized crime in 2023.

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In a television interview, Veliaj described as ridiculous the opposition’s proposals regarding the division of Tirana and the creation of several new municipalities.

Veliaj emphasized that the proposals of the opposition are only related to their narrow interests to benefit.

Veliaj underlined that the residents of the administrative units that have joined Tirana today live many times better than before thanks to the investments they received from the City Hall.

The mayor is convinced that the socialists will win all five municipalities in the region of Tirana.

Veliaj said that the offer of Sali Berisha and Ilir Meta of the opposition is no longer valid in 2022./p.s./

The meeting focused on hearings with representatives of several municipalities.

In his speech at the Territorial Reform Commission, Mayor of Lezha Pjerin Ndreu said that while focusing on the territorial division and leaving some other problems behind seems like a wrong orientation.

“It seems to me that all the propaganda is about how the territory will be parceled out and not about what effects it has had and how the problem can be fixed”, said Ndreu.

Ndreu said that the city halls are productive and have reduced the debt by 50%. He added that when he came in office he found the municipality with a debt of 4.6 billion ALL, while today the debt is 1 billion ALL.

“According to the territorial reform, a new situation has been created as it has grouped all the municipalities. Let’s take the case of Lezha which is concentrated in one. The most serious problem are not the elements that are realized. Every local unit is represented in the municipal council. I find that the problem is the way of management”, he stated.

“The tax collection system in rural areas is difficult. If there is a 4-year territorial reform, but you don’t have accurate data yet or there are the same arbitrary taxes put on everyone for different territories, i.e. the same cleaning tax, this is absurd. We need work”, stated Ndreu. /j.p/p.s./

In a press conference, DP vice chairman Bylykbashi, Secretary for Legal and Electoral Affairs Ivi Kaso and Secretary for Local Government Ylli Asllani said that the DP will participate in the territorial reform.

Bylykbashi said that the Democratic Party has set up a working group and is conducting a study in every branch of the Democratic Party regarding the concerns of the citizens in the local areas.

“I say, the territorial reform has failed since 2018. The power has already been centralized. The Democratic Party has denounced this affair. The Democratic Party has a clear intention to participate and do its best. Territorial reform is an instrument that should not be lost, because something done badly for small political interests brings serious consequences afterwards”, he said.

Also, Bylykbashi added that we have distributed a questionnaire to gather opinions from every side regarding this process.

“We have the capacity to carry out an Electoral Reform while in about 9 months time there will be local elections as well. I emphasize that this will be a political decision, which will have political support. It will not be a false reform like the one in 2014, but a long-term territorial reform of the local governance,” he said./p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama posted today on social media, photos showing moments from work in the cities of Durres, Saranda, Tepelena, Bulqiza, Malësia e Madhe, Kavaja, Kukes, Mallakastra, Mat, Devoll, Kuçova and Vora.

“Thank you for your commitment to the National Cleaning Plan, which has become a daily routine throughout the country and will continue unabated throughout the summer season because it is not an action, but a systematic, long and patient operation, to whom we will go until the end “, said Rama.

The National Plan of Radical Cleaning of Albania started on November 7, 2021 in Vlora and is extended in all the cities in the country. /k.s//a.a/p.s./