Report on reforms in environmental

1
8th REReP Task Force meeting September 23,
2005 Brussels, Belgium

Albania
Report on reforms in environmental policy and
reconstruction
2
Development of legal and policy framework

• Legislation approximation
• A. Laws approved (6)
• Law no.9299, date 28.10.2004 On the approval of
  amendments of Basel Convention for the Tran
  boundary transfer of hazardous substances.
• Law no. 9334, date 16.12.2004 On the approval of
  Albanias adhering to the Kyoto Protocol, in the
  frame of the Framework Convention of Climate
  Change.
• Law no. 9279, date 23.09.2004 On Albanias
  adhering to the Cartage Protocol

3
Development of legal and policy framework

• Law no.9263, date 29.07.2004On the ratification
  of the convention on persistent organic
  pollutants
• Law no. 9347, date 24.02.2005 On the
  ratification of the agreement between the RoA and
  the government of the Republic of Macedonia for
  the protection and sustainable development of the
  Ohrid lake and its watershed, based on the
  Convention for the protection of world natural
  and cultural heritage Convention on
  biodiversity Ramsar Convention Convention on
  EIA on the transbondary context Aarhus
  Convention Bonn Convention.
• Draft law On the EIA in the transbondary
  context is being discussed by the Parliamentary
  commissions.

4
Development of legal and policy framework

• B. Decisions of Council of Ministers ( 5 )
• DCM no.680, date 22.10.2004 On the declaration
  of the wetland system Vjose-Narte as water
  terrestrial protected landscape.
• DCM On the activity of the Environmental
  Inspectorate approved in January 2004.
• DCM no.86, date 11.02.2005 For the establishment
  of the management committees of the protected
  areas.
• DCM no.99, date 18.02.2005 For the approval of
  the Albanian catalogue for the classification of
  waste. based on the Commission Decision 2000/532
  as amended by 2001/118/EC and 2001/119/EC and the
  Council Decision 2001/573/EC, Directives
  75/442/EEC and 91/689/EEC.

5
Development of legal and policy framework

• DCM no.177, date 31.03.2005 For the approval of
  norms on effluent discharges.
• DCM no.469, dt.23.06.05 On the rules and
  procedures of the administration up to the
  banning of the ozone depleting substances based
  on the Directive 2002/3/EC.
• Common guideline of the Minister of Environment
  and the Minister of Transport and
  Telecommunications no. 6527, date 24.12.2004 On
  the allowable levels of air pollutants from
  emissions and noise from road mobile sources and
  the approach for their control based on the
  Directive 96/96/EC as amended by Directive
  2003/27/EC.

6
Development of legal and policy framework

• DCM On the approval of the strategy for the
  implementation of the Aarhus convention
• Other DCMs to be approved by the end of 2005
• Draft- law on Albanias adhering to the
  Convention on Long Range Transbondary Air
  Pollution (CLRTAP) on-going.
• Draft- law on Albanias adhering to the protocol
  of PRTR of Aarhus Convention to be approved
  soon.
• Decision no.153, dt.18.03.2005 For environmental
  protection from transbondary impacts planned
  to be approved by the Parliament at the end of
  2005.

7
Development of legal and policy framework

• Draft DCM For the declaration of the Shkodra
  Lake as a natural managed reserve on-going.
• Other secondary legislation
• Order of the minister of Environment For the
  indispensable documentation for the application
  for an environmental permit
• Regulation On the form, content and
  administration of the environmental dossier
  December 2004.
• Regulation For the public participation in the
  EIA process approved on 17.08.2004.

8
Development of legal and policy framework

• Guideline For the approval of the list of
  activities, application format, rules and
  procedures for obtaining the environmental
  consent and authorization of the REAs, approved
  on 17.03.2004.
• Draft-Guideline For the service tariffs for the
  environmental declaration, permit, authorization
  and consent, to be signed soon by the Minister
  of Environment.
• New development prior consultation of the
  economic agents with the MoE and civil society
  since the preparation of the ToRs, etc.

9
Development of legal and policy framework

• ELPA project CARDS 2002
• Improving inter-sectorial coordination
• Drafting a smart national environmental strategy
  focusing more on how to do things than what to do
  
• Increased involvement of the local government

10
Development of legal and policy framework

• NPAL drafted and approved by DCM
• Short term 2005-2006, 33 directives, i.e 9 of
  the Acquis
• Medium term 2007-2008, 82 directives, i.e 23 of
  the Acquis
• Long term 2009-2014, 45 directives i.e 68 of
  the Acquis

11
Civil Society/Public Involvement in Policy Making
and Implementation

• Environmental bulletin published by MoE
• MoEs website in internet www.moe.gov.al updated
  in April 2005(in Albanian)
• All kind of activities with the participation of
  NGOs all Steering Committees of different
  projects
• During 2004 541 articles in the written media
• January February 2005 a total of 187 articles
• 6 press conferences
• 60 people/month visiting the Information Center

12
Civil Society/Public Involvement in Policy Making
and Implementation

• Continued Workshops (10 in the period December
  04-April05) on the new legislation at the local
  level (REC, OSCE, MoE)
• Participants staff of municipalities, Council of
  the County, Prefecture, Regional Forest
  Directories, Local Water Directories, other
  inspectorates, NGOs, students and teachers.
• Areas covered
• Elbasani, Shkodra, Vlora,
• Gramshi, Gjirokastra, Berat,
• Durres, Lusnja, Korca, Kukes

13
(No Transcript)
14
Achievements in reducing environmental pollution

• The feasibility study for the rehabilitation of
  Durresi hot spot, completed.
• Draft agreement for a fund 1,5 million USD for
  Bishti I Palles, for re-packaging and disposal.
• Grant of 3.5 million US pledged by the Royal
  Netherlands Embassy for Porto-Romano for
  rehabilitation, strengthening the implementation
  capacity of MoE, hydrogeological monitoring,
  remediation and demolition works
• Results of the continuous monitoring of health in
  the Porto Romano show evidence of the
  environmental health impact.

15
Achievements in reducing environmental pollution

• A study performed by an NGO, through
  questionnaires and tests of 100 school children
  of 10-16 shows that the following data are
  reported
• 49 headaches 27 dizziness, 18 cold 31
  stomachache 14 nausea and vomits 14 skin
  rash 18 nose bleeding
• Symptoms connected to the presence of dust and
  lindane
• Dislocation of 4 families illegally settled in
  the most risky area of Porto Romano, 8.5 million
  ALL from MoE under tendering process. Within
  2005.
• The construction of the isolating wall for the
  first part has finished. Tender procedures for
  the constructions of the rest of the isolating
  walls completed. Construction under process.

16
Achievements in reducing environmental pollution

• Feasibility study for the environment
  rehabilitation project of the former PVC plant in
  Vlora.
• Feasibility study for the urban waste management
  project
• Council of the County was gathered with
  representatives of the community for a public
  consultation on the site selected for urban waste
  landfill
• Final draft report for the 3rd and last phase
  delivered to MoE and UNEP.

17
Achievements in reducing environmental pollution

• Arsenic treatment from the ammonia factory in
  Fier completed.
• Preparations on-going for the export of the
  solidified waste abroad, to be treated in a
  hazardous waste treatment plant.
• Follow up project suggested for the extra amounts
  of arsenic solution and polluted facilities,
  discovered recently.

18
Achievements in reducing environmental pollution

• Water treatment plant for Ballsh oil refinery
  (tender to be launched)
• Pre-feasibility studies completed for Elbasan,
  Rubik and Lac Institute of Environment
• Feasibility study and detailed design for a
  hazardous waste landfill on-going,
• three potential areas already selected,
• no decision yet on the final site for
  construction,
• draft law and strategy prepared and discussed
  with line ministries, civil society, media

19
CARDS 2005

• Pollution abatement at Ballshi Refinery (Phase
  II)
• Design, procurement and installation of
  integrated pollution control facilities through
  the provision of a wastewater treatment plant.
• Further training in environmental protection and
  management as well as operations and management
  of wastewater treatment plant

20
CARDS 2005

• Environmental clean-up of Nitrogen Fertiliser
  Plant, Fier (Phase II)
• Further treatment of hazardous residues/ wastes
  (arsenic based)
• Transportation and final disposal of hazardous
  residues/ wastes
• Removal, management and safe disposal of asbestos
  wastes and contaminated concrete structures and
• Remediation/ rehabilitation of former polluted
  areas.

21
CARDS 2005

• Environmental review and Action Plan in wider
  Patos Marinze area
• Environmental review of wider Patos Marinze area,
  identifying main sources of contaminants and
  negative impacts to key receptors
• Develop an Action Plan, identifying key actions
  for remediation/ rehabilitation of key pollution
  sources and
• Priority actions indicated and costed with a view
  to attract future IFI and other donor funding.

22
Environmental regional cooperation on cross
border issues

• Project title Lake Ohrid Conservation Project
• Starting date 1998
• Finishing date March 2005
• Project budget 1840000 USD GEF, 142000 USD
  Albanian Government
• Project objectives The conservation of natural
  value and the biodiversity of the Ohrid Lake and
  collaboration between Republic of Albania and
  FYRoM for a joint effective management of the
  watershed.

23
Environmental regional cooperation on cross
border issues

• Programme title Enabling Activity for Climatic
  Change Programme Albania (for more detailed go
  to ccalb_at_icc-al.org)
• Starting date 1998
• Finishing date 2009
• Regional Project budget
• 62,000 USD - Improvement for GHG inventory (GEF).
  End June 2006.
• Project objectives Preparation, Maintenance and
  Increase of national capacities for the
  preparation of the national communications to the
  UNFCCC, secure an ongoing and improvement of this
  process.

24
Environmental regional cooperation on cross
border issues

• Project title Conservation of Wetlands and
  Coastal Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Region
• Starting date 1999
• Finishing date 2005
• Project budget 1,7 51million USD by GEF 150
  000 USD by Albanian Govern.
• Project objectives To have a sustainable
  management and the preservation of the biologic
  diversity in the coastal zone of 6 Mediterranean
  countries through the compilation of a suitable
  legal framework, institutions and capacities
  building, exchange of experience, the undertaking
  of concrete actions, etc. The project is being
  implemented in the Narta zone.

25
Environmental regional cooperation on cross
border issues

• Project title Strengthening of the relations of
  the Environment Ministry with the Environment
  European Agency. First phase Regional project
  that includes Albania and Yugoslavia.
• Second phase Project budget 2 MEuro.
• 2004-2006.
• Regional EIONET training of the IT experts from
  the Balkan MoEs.

26
Environmental regional cooperation on cross
border issues

• MoU between the Ministry of Environment and
  Territory (Republic of Italy) and the MoE
  (Albania) On the Cooperation in the field of the
  clean development mechanism under article 12 of
  the Kyoto Protocol

27
Environmental regional cooperation on cross
border issues

• Regional Project Integrated management of the
  ecosystems of the Prespa Lake trans-boundary
  region. expected to start soon. To be finalized
  in 2006. 928,000 USD. GEF.
• Objectives To promote integrated management of
  the ecosystem of the trans-boundary region of the
  National Prespa Park through the participation of
  all parties and through the increase of the
  cooperation between three participating countries
  in this project (Albania, FORYM , Greece).

28
Environmental regional cooperation on cross
border issues

• Project title Integrated Ecosystem management of
  Lake Shkodra
• Starting date 2005. Finishing date 2006.
• Project budget 175,000 USD. WB.
• Project objectives To control pollution and to
  improve Biodiversity conservation of Lake
  Shkoder. Regional project between Republic of
  Albania and Republic of Monte Negro.