EC helps renovate state Publication Centre

TIRANA, March 29 – The State Publication Centre, finally operational owing to an EC-funded project of around 400 000 Euros, was inaugurated last week after it was fully renovated and furnished in line with European standards, thus facilitating public access to legal publications, and research, as well as enhancing transparency and general awareness of legislation in Albania.
The infrastructure and operational conditions of the State Publications Centre had been inadequate and outdated with limited space for a professional operation of the Centre and the air was constantly polluted by the chemicals used for the printing equipment.
The Centre also needed additional, modern equipment to enhance its inadequate capacity to deal with the increased requests for publications such as the official gazettes, collections of laws and all codes of legislation.
The renovated State Publications Centre will serve the needs for publication and proper dissemination to the public of all legal acts of the Albanian institutions, a kind of a public information office specialized in legal acts. The public can easily visit the Centre and ask for specific decrees, laws or decisions from the Council of Ministers. All kinds of legal acts can be consulted in the Centre and those interested can also purchase a copy or a publication of the Official Gazette.
Renovation works included another old two-storey building to add to the Centre’s capacity, an outdoor space, the installation of a heating and ventilation system, backbone infrastructure, electrical facilities, supply and installation of computers, printers, scanners and software as well as new office furniture in line with European standards.
Luigi Brusa of the Delegation of the European Commission to Albania said that “I would like to encourage the Albanian authorities to ensure the necessary budget for the operation and maintenance of this important Centre that will help close the gap between state and society”.