Shpresa Mezini

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10th REReP Task Force meeting November 27th,
2007 Brussels, Belgium

Albania Key challenges and possible solutions
Shpresa Mezini Ministry of Environment, Forestry
and Water Administration
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Key ChallengeWaste management -1

• Albania has progressed with the waste
  legislation.
• Due to lack of financial resources, the later is
  not yet supported with the necessary
  infrastructure (temporary or definitive
  landfills, regional or local) according to
  European standards consequently, combined with
  other factors, this situation results in low
  enforcement of the law.
• The Joint Ministerial Regulation (between MPPTT
  and MoEFWA) No 3 of 30.03.2007 On the
  construction waste management through their
  generation, transportation and disposal drafted
  with the support of the SIDA waste project in
  Korce Region.
• The draft Instruction of the Waste Management
  Plans prepared, with the support of the SIDA
  waste project in Korce.
• The draft decision On the approval of the list
  of waste to be imported for use, recycling and
  treatment is completed.
• Construction of such landfills is an urgent need
  for the country, for the enforcement of
  environmental legislation, as well as for the
  implementation of the SAA and other policy
  documents.

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SolutionsWaste management -2

• Construction of such landfills is an urgent need
  for the country, for the enforcement of
  environmental legislation, as well as for the
  implementation of the SAA and other policy
  documents.
• - Sharra dumpsite project (6 MEuro)
• - SIDA supported waste project in the Korca
  Region (1,6 MEuro)
• - Feasibility study and detailed design for
  Shkodra landfill have been enabled with the
  support of the Italian Government (Toskana
  region)
• The National Waste Management Plan is foreseen to
  be covered by CARDS 2006 project, expected to
  start in early 2008.
• The Ministry (MoEFWA) is negotiating with the
  Ministry of Integration for using IPA funds for
  the construction of landfills.

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Law Drafting
The environmental legislation in Albania is
completed and improved by new laws and by
laws. Draft Laws in the approval/adoption
process D/law On the protection from
international traffic of the flora and fauna
species at risk D/law On some amendments of
the Law on Protected Areas D/law On some
amendments of the Law on environmental
protection D/law On some amendments of the Law
on Water Resources D/law On the protection of
medicinal and oleaginous plants NEW STRATEGIC
DOCUMENTS 2007 - new National Environmental
Strategy and Action Plan (supported by EU), due
to be adopted by the Albanian Government in Nov.
2007. Strategy on fishing - adopted In
accordance with the National Strategy and Action
Plan for the implementation of Aahrus Convention
and the observations of the Compliance Committee
of the Convention, the Ministry drafted a new
Action Plan on the implementation of Aarhus
Convention, aiming the improvement of the public
information and public participation in the
environmental issues.
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Laws adopted by Albanian Governement

• During the years 2006 2007, according to the
  National Plan for the Implementation of the SAA
  and the annual analytic programme, the following
  legal acts are adopted
• Law On the adhesion of the Republic of Albania
  in the Protocol On the registers and transfer
  of pollution, of the Aahrus Convention.
• Law On the adhesion of the Republic of Albania
  in the Beijing Amendments of the protocol of
  Montreal.
• Law On the adhesion of the Republic of Albania
  in London Amendments, annex II of the Protocol of
  Montreal
• Law On the adhesion of the Republic of Albania
  in the Copenhagen Amendments, of the Protocol of
  Montreal
• Law On the adhesion of the Republic of Albania
  in the Montreal Amendments, of the Protocol of
  Montreal
• Law On the adhesion of the Republic of Albania
  in the Decisions II/14 and III/17, Amendments of
  ESPOO Convention
• Law On the administration of hazardous wastes
• Law On some amendments in the law on forests and
  forest service
• Law On the protection of biodiversity
• Law On pastures
• Law On the evaluation and administration of the
  noises in the environment
• Law On the protection of the environment from
  transboundary pollution

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Investments Environmental hot spots -1

• Reduction of environmental pollution, especially
  the traditional pollution at
• the hot spots identified by UNEP, are the main
  goals of the MoEFWA in the
• short and medium term priority.
• Clean up of Chemical Plant in Durrës-Under the
  Project Integrated costal zone Management and
  Clean UP (ICZM)-implemented by the Ministry of
  Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications.
  the Component C of this project is under
  implementation Porto Romano Hot-Spot Clean-Up.
  The contracted company to prepare the
  technical-engineering study for the
  rehabilitation, costing 0,550 MUSD.
• Vlora hot spot-The pre-investment study for the
  rehabilitation of the Vlora hot spot is finalized
  and is available to be implemented with the
  financial support from the possible fdonors.
  (CARDS 2005-2006) (planned to start by Sep. 2008)
  
• Reduction of the environmental pollution in the
  hot spot of Oil Refinery in Ballsh By the support
  of the CARDS program 2002 and 2005, a project is
  underway for the rehabilitation of the Treatment
  plant of the waste water three dumpsites for the
  sludge derivate from the treatment are being
  constructed. The rehabilitation of this hot spot
  is due by September 2008.
• Environmental Action plan for Patos-Marinez oil
  extraction area-Under the CARDS Programme, the
  project designed to help assessment of
  environment impact in Patos-Marinza oil
  extraction area, started on April 1st 2007 . The
  budget is 0,5 MEUR and it is expected to be
  implemented during 2008.

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Investments Environmental hot spots -2

• Arsenical Elimination in Fier - The project for
  immobilization and concentration of arsenical
  solution in the former Nitrate Fertilizer Plant
  in Fier, under PHARE support, it completed. With
  the support of CARDS 2005, it is planned the
  encapsulation of the arsenical waste according to
  the BE standards
• Copper Factory Rubik. In the frame of CARDS
  program 2004, the Detailed Design for Site
  Rehabilitation of Copper Factory in Rubik is
  finalised. The work will start as soon as the
  construction permits and other licences are
  issued.
• Sharra dumpsite project. The project aims at
  reorganising the current dumpsite and ensure
  environmentally-safe operations. The completion
  of this step will be proceeded with the
  construction of a new waste discharge field, next
  to the current area. The project time frame is 2
  year (September 2009)

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Environmental Impact Assessment

• Key challenges
• Enforcement of the environmental institutions
• Capacity building
• More funds allocated
• More helping instruments from the Ministry like
  methodologies etc
• More responsibility by the Aarhus Convention
• Legislation
• Public participation is required by the national
  law on the protection of the environment and the
  law on environmental impact assessment.
• A specific regulation on public participation in
  the EIA process is approved from the MoE during
  2004
• Implementation and practice
• The public very rarely involved in the EIA
  process. In most of the cases, public is
  represented from the Councils of the Local
  government.
• Lack of the awareness, expertise (know-how), lack
  of will and funds are today obstacles of the
  public involvement

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Climate Change

• Background
• Albania is a Party the UNFCCC as of 1995
• Albania is Party to the Kyoto Protocol as of 2005
• Albania is a non Annex 1 to the UNFCCC and Kyoto
  Protocol
• No reduction commitments
• Albania is a relatively low net emitter country
  and will be highly affected to the expected
  climate changes
• Challenges
• Reducing the growth rate of greenhouse gas
  emissions
• Adaptation to the expected climate change (water
  resources, hydropower generation, health,
  ecosystems)
• Possible solutions
• Addressing mitigation and adaptation to the
  national development strategies
• Enforcing institutions and legislation to get
  advantage of the carbon finance and flexible
  mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol

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Cross-border Cooperation -1
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on
31/05/2005, on Cooperation in the field of the
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under art. 12
of the Kyoto Protocol An Annex I to the MoU is
signed on Feb. 17, 2007, on the continuation of
the technical and legal assistance to the DNA
for building and enhancing local capacities in
the preparation of PINs (Project Idea Notes) and
PDDs (Project Design Documents) in the framework
of CDM of the Kyoto Protocol. A Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry for the
Environment Land and Sea of the Republic of Italy
and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and
Water Administration of the Republic of Albania
on Cooperation for Environmental Protection is
under negotiation. The aim of this MoU will be
the development of joint programs, initiatives
and projects dealing with the prevention and/or
reduction of environmental pollution,
environmental protection and promotion of
sustainable development.
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Cross-border Cooperation -2

• Cooperation between the Ministry for the
  Environment Land and Sea of the Republic of
  Italy (IMELS), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
  Energy (METE) of the Republic of Albania and the
  Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water
  Administration (MoEFWA) of the Republic of
  Albania. The Cooperation Agreement under
  negotiation is aimed at identifying joint pilot
  projects to be implemented in Albania.
• Cooperation between Republic of Montenegro and
  Albania The Integrated ecosystem management of
  Skadar lake, financed by the Word Bank.
• Integrated ecosystem management in the Prespa
  Lake Basin of Albania, FYR-Macedonia and Greece.
  Objective is to catalyse the adoption and
  implementation of ecosystem management
  interventions in the Prespa Lakes basin of
  Albania, FYR-Macedonia, and Greece that integrate
  ecological, economic, and social goals with the
  aim of conserving globally significant
  biodiversity and conserving and reducing
  pollution of the transboundary lakes.

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Thank you for your attention!