Germany awards Euro 1 million to support economic legislation

TIRANA, Oct. 24 – The German government will financially support the Albanian Ministry of Trade and Energy to bring its legislation in line with the acquis. The Euro 1 million project will be implemented by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), supporting the economic legislation and strengthening the necessary structures for their implementation. Speaking at the project’s launch last week, deputy Economy Minister Enno Bozdo said the Ministry was responsible for eight chapters in the approximation of legislation. The German assistance includes advising and supporting the Economy Ministry, especially members of the inter-ministerial groups through EU, regional and local experts. In the process, the Economy and Energy Ministry is responsible for bringing in line chapters such as the free movement of goods, the right of establishment and freedom to provide services, trade legislation, intellectual property, energy, industrial policies, consumer protection and trade policies. Deputy Economy Minister Bozdo says that despite failing to get the EU candidate status, the Albanian government would proceed with its preparations to open negotiations with the European Union. In Albania, the GTZ, now GIZ, has been promoting economic development at national, regional and local levels. Special emphasis is placed on the agricultural sector, sustainable tourism, the clothing industry, and the up-and-coming software sector. In the poorer north of the country, instruments of regional development are being introduced on a pilot basis. In addition to the German financial cooperation (FC) investments managed by KfW Entwicklungsbank, GTZ advises the Albanian Water Regulatory Authority on improving the framework for a safe supply of drinking water and sustainable wastewater disposal. Germany is one of the biggest donors in Albania especially in the water supply and energy projects with development investments estimated at more than 1 billion dollars. Energy, water supply and sewerage, infrastructure, environment, vocational training education and SMEs will continue to remain the focus of the German government’s support to Albania, said German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dirk Niebel during a visit to Albania last August. The latest European Commission report underlined shortcomings regarding the enforceability of contracts and the rule of law, together with weak infrastructure and human capital and the informal economy as barriers continuing to hinder economic development. The ongoing political stalemate also affected the economic criteria with some important laws requiring a majority 3/5 of votes failing to be turned into law. The delay in establishing the administrative court, due to lack of political consensus remains an obstacle to investment, says the report