Central and Local Self- Government Consultative Council meeting

On February 15th 2017 was held the first meeting of the Central and Local Self- Government Consultative Council, established on January of this year. The Consultative Council discussed the draft-law on local finances, which constitutes one of the most important laws for the functioning and continuity of the administrative-territorial reform.
Present at the meeting were the Minister of State for Local Issues, Mr. Bledi Çuçi, Mayor of Tirana also Chairman of the Association for Local Autonomy, Mr. Erion Veliaj, President of Tirana Regional Council also Chairman of the Association of Albanian Regional Councils, Mr. Aldrin Dalipi and members of municipal and regional councils in the country.
The participants praised the role of the Central and Local Self- Government Consultative Council as a key instrument in the dialogue with local government, by emphasizing that the new law on local finances will reflect all the proposals and suggestions of the local government.
It also emphasized the role of councilors at the local level as an important instrument for transparency and fair decision making.
Minister of State for Local Issues Mr. Çuçi said that the new law on local finances is expected to be approved within this legislature. “The new law on local finances will be subject to discussion, will be approved by the government, the government will send it to the Parliament and we hope that within this parliamentary session it will be approved.”
Mayor of Tirana also chairman of the Association for Local Autonomy, Mr. Erion Veliaj said that with the administrative-territorial reform, municipalities have more competencies.
According to him, now it is important the review of the method of financing these local units by having a much more flexible law.
President of Tirana Regional Council and chairman of the Association of Albanian Regional Councils, Mr. Aldrin Dalipi said that “the draft-law needs to avoid clashes with local self-government law, especially on issues concerning the role of local councils”.
During the meeting, there were considered and approved the proposals of the Association of Albanian Regional Councils regarding the draft regulations of Consultative Council for better functioning of this body.
Association of Albanian Regional Councils will continue its’ work with the appropriate group of experts to match the draft-law on local finances with other applicable laws.
Central and Local Self- Government Consultative Council was established following a Decision of the Council of Ministers of Albania approved on December 21st 2016, and is also a direct application of the European Charter on Local Self-Government.