The Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment Almira Xhambulla said that, “the bill proposes the ratification of the loan agreement between Albania and the EBRD, for the implementation of this project, through the allocation of a financing, in the amount of 75,500,000 euros.”

According to her, the purpose of the draft law is to reduce pollution from terrestrial exogenous pollutants in the water environment in targeted areas of the southwestern coastal belt of Albania.

Xhambulla said that the objectives that the project aims to achieve are related to the promotion of integrated circular approaches for the protection of landscapes and water resources, the reduction of water pollution in the Vjosa river and the expansion of sanitation infrastructure.
The rapporteur of the case, Ilir Ndraxhi, said that all interventions with the help of the project are expected to contribute positively to the economic growth of the region, enriching the picturesque landscapes, developing more tourism, increasing employment and potentially bringing more income to the local communities.
The project will deliver a positive impact on the environment in the long term, because it aims to improve municipal public services through the controlled and sustainable management of municipal solid waste and wastewater.
Albania is improving the legal framework for waste management, aligning it with that of the EU. The New National Integrated Waste Management Plan 2020–2035 aims to incorporate circular economy principles into the national waste management system. Therefore, the focus on pollution reduction and prevention measures will include investments in gray and green infrastructure as well as human capital for behavior change.
After discussions, feedback and various suggestions, members of the parliamentary committee approved this draft law in principle, article by article and as a whole.

Also, the committee reviewed the draft resolution for the Activity of the Energy Regulatory Entity (ERE), for the year 2023.
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