The recommendations come after public concern following long lines of cars waiting for the technical control in late 2013 and early 2014, especially in Tirana where only a single facility outside the capital has to handle hundreds of thousands of cars.
TIRANA, June 3 – Albania’s Competition Authority has asked government that Switzerland-based SGS Automotive which has been managing the country’s vehicle inspection service for the past five years should increase its technical control facilities in Tirana in the short-run and examine the opportunity of liberalizing the market in the long-run.
The recommendations to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure come after public concern following long lines of cars waiting for the technical control in late 2013 and early 2014, especially in Tirana where only a single facility outside the capital has to handle hundreds of thousands of cars.
The Competition Authority also urges the ministry to take into consideration EU’s latest directive on concessions by implementing the principle of transparency and introducing the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) criterion which is a balance between price and quality.
The Competition Authority says verifications have unveiled that the concessionaire has fulfilled its investment commitments and that starting March 1, 2014 the concessionaire has also made available the online service of booking technical controls, which has improved the service by reducing waiting time.
Starting September 6, 2013, tariffs charged by the Swiss concessionaire on the annual technical control of vehicles increased by up to 10 percent, according to a decision approved by the former government. The concessionaire will charge 1,960 lek (Euro 13.6) for passenger cars, up from 1,800 lek. Tariffs also slightly increased even for other larger vehicles and retests cars have to undergo in case technical problems are identified.
SGS Automotive Albania, part of the Switzerland-based SGS group, was awarded a 10-year concessionary contract on vehicle inspection service in September 2009. This contract, awarded following a competitive tender process, saw the continued operation of the existing 14 test centres in Albania along with the construction of a new 6 lane test centre in Tirana.
The inspection equipment used by SGS in Albania is computer controlled and highly automated to ensure maximum test security and accuracy.
