Deputy Prime Minister Senida Mesi opened a conference on the mid-term review of the decentralisation process, organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and that of Finance and Economy.
Në fjalën e saj, Zëvendëskryeministrja Mesi falwnderoi qeverinw zvicerane pwr angazhimin shumë-vjeçar ndaj zhvillimit dhe demokratizimit të qeverisjes vendore, dhe nënvizoi reformwn administrative-territorial e cila i ka hapur rrugë një procesi efektiv decentralizimi dhe ndërtimi të një autonomie reale vendore, përfaqësim më të mirë, demokraci vendore të prekshme dhe shërbime më cilësore e lehtë të aksesueshme në secilën njësi të vendit..
“We have an increase in revenues from taxes and tariffs collected by municipalities at 28%, and an increase in spending for local investments with 88% in 2017 compared to 2016. At the same time we have improved macro-economic indicators on local government revenues, and an orientation on sustainable territorial development through the approval of the General Local Plans for 26 municipalities in the country”, said Deputy Prime Minister Mesi. She also emphasised improvements in expanding and managing local services, such as managament of water and irrigation, fire services, the fund for forests and pastures, rural transport, etj.
“Albania made important progress in its territorial reform and the strengthening of municipalities. Decentralisation is a mean towards good governance. Decentralising power brings decisions close to where the people are, taking account of aspirations and needs of each community, however small or remote, as well as of the needs of the local private sector”, said Swiss Ambassador Adrian Maître. He mentioned that progress is visible in terms of devolving more functions towards municipalities, and added that “what counts now is the implementation of the laws and the consolidation of the reform”.
A major findings from the review was that new municipalities have achieved some degree of territorial and social cohesion and integrated vision for their development, after three years of the Territorial and Administrative Reform.
The conference was supported by the Swiss-funded Decentralisation and Local Development Programme (dldp) and served as a platform for dialogue on how to proceed with decentralisation. Swiss support was provided from the beginning of the Territorial and Administrative Reform in 2015.
