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Ref. CG-PR 002 (2016)

Congress fact-finding mission to Albania

Strasbourg, 24 February 2016 – The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will carry out a fact-finding mission to Albania from 24 to 26 February 2016, in the framework of the Congress’ post-electoral dialogue (further to the observation of the local elections held on 21 June 2015) and its mechanism to assess the situation of local and regional democracy.

Headed by Jos WIENEN (Netherlands, EPP-CCE), Thematic Spokesperson on observation of local and regional elections, the delegation will be composed of the President of the Local Chamber, Anders KNAPE (Sweden, EPP-CCE), Vice-President Barbara TOCE (Italy, SOC) as well as the Rapporteur on the observation of the 2015 local elections, Stewart DICKSON (United Kingdom, ILDG).

High-level meetings are scheduled on 25 February in Tirana, notably with Bledar CUCI, Minister of State for Local Government Issues, Erion VELIAJ, Mayor of Tirana, as well as Lulzim BASHA, Head of the Democratic Party, and Bashkim FINO, Chairman of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Local Government and of the ad-hoc Committee for Electoral Reform.

The Congress’ delegation will also meet with representatives of national local and regional associations, domestic NGOs and with representatives of the New Albanian Party. On 26 February, an exchange of views with members of the Central Electoral Commission of Albania is planned on the follow-up to the Congress’ recommendations further to the observation of the 2015 local elections.

The Fact-finding mission will be dedicated, in particular, to the changes brought by the 2014 administrative-territorial reform, including the reduction of the number of Local Government Units  (from 373 to 61 “Municipalities” abolishing the “Communes”), the broadening of functions of “Municipalities” as well as the re-drawing of electoral borders. The latter had been challenged by the opposition prior to the 2015 local elections and will be discussed – among other issues such as the next steps of devolution of powers and concrete implementation of the reform - during the visit.

Reference documents

-          Congress Report on “Observation of local elections in Albania”, adopted at the 29^th Session (20-22 October 2015).

-          Congress Report on “Local and regional democracy in Albania”, adopted at the 25^th Session (29-31 October 2013).

Contact on the spot:

Renate ZIKMUND, Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Deputy Head of Department of Statutory Activities, Mobile: + 33 659 786 455.

The Congress has two chambers, the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions. It brings together 324 full and 324 substitute members representing more than 200 000 European territorial communities.
President of the Congress: Jean-Claude Frécon (France, SOC), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Anders Knape (Sweden, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC)
Political Groups: Socialist Group (SOC), Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CCE), Independent and Liberal Democrat Group (ILDG), European Conservatives & Reformists Group  (ECR)