THE “BORDER” OF THE NEW ALBANIA
Të lidhura
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In Albania, almost every decision is presented as a reform and is often justified by claims that it is a requirement of the European Union. The latest territorial and administrative reorganization has also been drawn into this old political logic, with the debate focused on the number of municipalities rather than the fundamental issue.
The European Union has specified neither the size nor the number of municipalities Albania should have. This is a domestic matter. What the EU requires is the strengthening of local democracy, greater capacity, and adequate financial resources, since local government units play a key role in guaranteeing European standards through the services they provide to citizens.
A genuine reform should focus on the core issues of local government, particularly democracy and citizen involvement in the decision-making process.
Following the 2015 territorial division, municipalities expanded while their powers were reduced. The relationship between the center and the periphery was not taken into account, leading to the abandonment of some areas of the country. Meanwhile, the connection between municipalities and communities weakened. Tirana and the municipalities along the coast are examples of how decisions concerning the most important assets are handed down from above, while residents learn about them only when fences go up and concrete mixers arrive.
Urban planning, the management of water supply and sewerage systems, waste treatment, and the administration of beaches, protected areas, and other functions continue to be directed primarily by the central government. Mayors and municipal councils are viewed as extensions of the government rather than as representatives elected by citizens. For this reason, the central issue is not the number of municipalities, but the transfer of power from the prime minister’s office to locally elected officials.
The share of public spending managed by local government in Albania, compared with total public finances, is significantly lower than the average in EU countries. A municipality cannot be assessed for its effectiveness when it lacks sufficient funding and powers. Before administrative boundaries are revised, the model used to finance local government must be examined.
The country needs a local and regional development strategy. The vast majority of the population and economic activity is concentrated in Tirana and the surrounding areas. At best, other parts of the country rely on seasonal tourism, but they are unable to create sustainable economies and public services that would enable residents to build their lives where they live.
Any reform-driven change must be based on clear criteria. Why have some municipalities been selected for merger while other units with similar characteristics remain unaffected? A process that has such a major impact on citizens should strengthen the state and be based on broad political and social consensus.
Before another reorganization begins, it must be demonstrated that its long-term benefits will outweigh the costs. It must also be clarified whether today’s difficulties can be resolved solely by changing powers, funding, and institutional organization, without altering administrative boundaries.
A municipality is not merely an administrative structure. It is also connected to a community’s historical, cultural, and social identity. When consultation with residents remains a formality and does not genuinely take place, as reactions and protests in several areas of the country have shown, citizens feel sidelined and view the reform as a decision imposed from above.
The decision on the territorial division will also define the “border” of the new Albania. It will show whether politics has learned lessons from the protests of recent months, which have raised the question of who makes decisions on behalf of the people and how those decisions are made.
One of the first decisions taken by the newly elected British prime minister was to transfer power from the government to municipalities. This move raises the question of whether it also offers a valuable lesson for Albanians and whether Labour’s approach can serve as a guide for Albania’s Socialists.
Albania resembles a single administrative unit where decision-making is concentrated in the prime minister’s office. Every new policy should aim to reverse this centralization and place communities at the center. Albanians must be heard on how they envision the future of the places where they live, and they must be given the opportunity to decide on it. For changes with such an impact, a referendum should be an option worth considering.
Local democracy must be one of the main pillars of the new Albania. A genuine reform is needed to shift power from the top down and from the center toward the periphery, while creating a local and regional development policy. Only in this way will Albanians across the country feel heard, valued, and respected.
By Ditmir Bushati
