Albania
Legal, policy and institutional framework
Foreword
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Environmental Performance Review (EPR) Programme provides assistance to member States by regularly assessing their environmental performance. Countries then take steps to improve their environmental management integrate environmental considerations into economic sectors increase the availability of information to the public and promote information exchange with other countries on policies and experiences. Over two decades these reviews have resulted in stronger institutions for environmental management improved financial frameworks for environmental protection and greening the economy advanced environmental monitoring and information systems better integration of environmental concerns into sectoral policies strengthened public participation and increased international cooperation across the ECE region.
Climate change mitigation and adaptation
Preface
This third Environmental Performance Review (EPR) of Albania takes stock of progress made by Albania in the management of its environment since it was reviewed for the second time in 2012 and assesses the implementation of the recommendations made in the second review. It covers legal and policy frameworks greening the economy environmental monitoring public participation and education for sustainable development. Furthermore the EPR addresses issues of specific importance to the country related to air protection biodiversity and protected areas as well as water waste and chemicals management. It also examines the efforts of Albania to integrate environmental considerations into its policies in the transport energy and industry sectors. The review further provides a substantive and policy analysis of the country’s climate change adaptation and mitigation measures and its participation in international mechanisms.
Foreword
An upper-middle income country Albania is in the process of implementing an all-encompassing reform effort to foster national competitiveness and achieve greater integration into global value chains.
Acknowledgments
This study is the sixth in a series of national assessments of regulatory and procedural barriers to trade in the UNECE region. It was prepared by Ms. Hana Daoudi under the guidance of Mr. Mika Vepsäläinen. The UNECE would like to acknowledge the contribution of Ms. Mariela Stefanllari President of the Human Environment Culture (HEC) Foundation for supervising the team of national consultants who conducted the face-to-face interviews with traders and for providing logistical and substantive support throughout the business process analysis.
Trade facilitation conditions
Inspired by the WTO rules and international best practices Albania’s trade facilitation efforts are geared toward consolidating a paperless trading environment. This strategic goal is being pursued within the context of a gradual approach whereby reforms are fashioned incrementally in a learning-by-doing manner to accumulate the required institutional capacity for long-term sustainability.
Introduction
Located on the west side of the Balkan Peninsula Albania is a small country which covers a total area of 28748 square kilometres with mountains and hills making up around 70 percent of the country. It has a coastline on the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea which runs 418 kilometres in total length and is bordered by: Montenegro in the north-west; Serbia and Kosovo92 in the north-east; the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in the north and east; and Greece in the south and south-east. The country is endowed with rich agricultural lands and favourable climate conditions in addition to substantive reserves of mineral resources including chromium copper nickel coal bauxite and iron ore.