New online forum to promote public’s voice in draft laws

TIRANA, May 30 – Albania’s Foundation for Economic Freedom has launched an online civil forum inviting the public and interested groups to have their say on important draft laws, as an instrument to increase transparency and participation in the decision-making process. Introducing the initiative during a meeting with economists and lawyers in the northern city of Shkodra last week, the Foundation’s executive director Artan Gjergji emphasized that the drafting of laws in Albania often lacks transparency. “This is a process which is completely carried out in technical and dark offices, often serving certain groups for narrow interests and always neglecting the public’s views,” Gjergji told VoA in the local Albanian service. According to him, Albania’s frequent change of tax legislation, at an average of once a month, makes it unique, yet problematic. “We have managed to create an electronic platform where more than 100 current draft laws of different fields have been uploaded, allowing everybody to have access to the impacts of these laws,” added Gjergji.