The High State Audit says there are an estimated 270,000 applications for legalizations of which only 7,039 have obtained the legalization certificate, revealing the poor performance of central and regional ALUIZNI officials
It is estimated that some 350,000 to 400,000 buildings have been erected without permits nationwide after the early ’90s
TIRANA, Feb. 22 – Fourteen officials of the Agency for Legalization, Urbanization and Integration of Informal Zones, ALUIZNI, have been sued for abuse of office after inspections carried out by the High State Audit. The sued senior officials and specialists of the ALUIZNI directorate general, ALUIZNI regional directorates in Tirana, Durres and Fier are reported to have caused damage of around 665,000 Euros.
Citing poor performance, the High State Audit has proposed 40 disciplinary measures for ALUIZNI employees including dismissals, and suggested that the law on legalization and integration of informal buildings and the government decision on the legalization service fees and administration of revenues be reviewed.
The High State Audit revealed that only 4 percent of applications for legalization, some 8,712, have been submitted to the ALUIZNI directorate general. The watchdog says there are an estimated 270,000 applications for legalizations of which only 7,039 have obtained the legalization certificate, revealing poor performance central and regional ALUIZNI officials.
“Analysis and conclusions made after these controls showed that the concentration of a series of decision-making competences in the ALUIZNI directorate general has produced both inefficiency in human resource management and legal violations.
It is estimated that some 350,000 to 400,000 buildings have been erected without permits nationwide. Rapid internal migration during the economically turbulent, yet less
restrictive, 1990s led to mass squatting on state and private landإspecially in coastal and per-urban areas, according to a World Bank report.
The legalization process has moved slowly despite the resources devoted to it. Coordination problems between ALUIZNI, the Immovable Property Registration Office (IPRO), and the Property Restitution and Compensation Agency (AKKP) have reportedly hindered legalization. First, there have been issues in standardization of data. Second, the payment of compensation for expropriation due to legalization remains insufficiently funded.
The ongoing legalization process leaves out a large number of informally constructed
buildings. The Law on Legalization applies only to buildings constructed before May 2006
and for which legalization applications were submitted by November 15, 2006.
The law does not apply to constructions in existing urban areas, land within the borders of urban areas, or constructions within 100 meters of a national road, except in designated area.
Assuming a conservative figure of 350,000 illegal constructions in total, beyond the 270,592 properties for which legalization applications were submitted, there are at least 80,000 properties that remain illegal and outside the process of legalization. Furthermore, the number of illegal constructions continues to grow, as buildings continue to be constructed without permits -either by choice or because the planning system is not operating effectively.
Any new round of legalization will need to be accompanied by credible action to prevent new illegal construction. It is unrealistic to expect the Government to tear down the 80,000 (or more) buildings which are currently not included in the legalization process. The Government may instead need to embark on another round of legalization, which seems to be widely anticipated by the population. However, such a move would risk strengthening incentives for future illegal construction and squatting, if the population interprets it to mean that these activities will be eventually regularized, says the World Bank report on immovable property rights in Albania.
The World Bank report suggesting the acceleration of the property compensation and restitution process by revising the current legal framework foreseeing compensation at current market prices has angered the ex-property owners. Representatives of the Property with Justice Association opposed suggestions by World Bank experts of following examples applied by other ex-communist countries whose property compensation schemes also include long-term treasury bonds and shares in state-owned enterprises, rather than cash.
“We studied the international experience, and there is not a single country in the entire world- not only in Europe but the entire world – that has considered fair to provide a full compensation at the current market price for the land confiscated many years ago,” noted Mrs. Lvovsky. Last August, Albania’s Property Restitution and Compensation Agency (AKKP) announced 107 winners who will benefit from 670 million lek (USD 6.7 million, Euro 4.8 million) from this year’s fund to compensate former owners.
After the National Register of Civil Status launched in 2009, the compilation of the land register by 2012 will be the top priority for government. Prime Minister Sali Berisha has called on the task force, composed of government ministers and directors, for maximum commitment to complete the electronic system of data within this year. With the legalization and privatization processes underway, government has extended the use of the privatization bonds for another two years. A decision taken by majority Mps of the parliamentary economy committee foresees extending the deadline for privatization bonds for another two years until Dec. 31 2013.
