Second Environmental Performance Review of Albania

154The 2011 Law on Environmental Permitting, No. 10448, establishes a new and special procedure forenvironmental permitting in Albania. This Law transposes Directive 2008/1/EC concerning integrated pollutionprevention and control, as amended by Directive 2009/31/EC, and Directive 2001/80/EC on the limitation ofemissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants, as amended by Directive 2009/31/ECand many other permitting principles for a vast number of EC Directives. The implementation of this Lawbegins in January 2013.In practice, the procedures are not clear and transparent in spite of the legal requirements. There are no permitconditions with threshold limit values for pollutants. The permits are not regulating emissions to air, water andsoil.Recommendation 1.4:(a) The structure of the Ministry of Environment, which is function- and management-oriented, needs to beexpanded. Specifically, the following new sectors under the directorates should be created:• A section for hazardous waste management and a section for emergency situations within theDirectorate for Pollution Control and Prevention;• A section for environmental impact assessment and a separate section for environmental permittingwithin the Directorate for EIA and Information;• A national centre for environmental monitoring as a matter of high priority; (see recommendation 4.1)A section of the Forests Extension Service has been created to assist with and strengthen the communalforestry.(b) The Ministry of Environment should consider establishing a new department for coastal areas; (seerecommendation 11.3)(c) In addition, the following should be strengthened:• Directorate for Environmental Policy and Project Implementation;• Directorate for Natural Resources Management and Biodiversity Management;• The Information and Public Relations Unit.(d) The staff of both the Ministry and the Regional Environmental Agencies should have access to ongoingtraining in all of the areas that fall within their competence.The number of personnel and internal structure of the ministry responsible for environmental issues (currentlyMoEFWA) has changed considerably in comparison with those of the former Ministry of Environment (MoE)in 2002. The basic intention was to gradually reach the most appropriate conditions for completing theMinistry’s existing and new tasks. A new sector was established dealing with waste and industrial accidents.Separate units were established within MoEFWA for performing the EIA-related tasks and permission tasks.The total number of staff of MoEFWA is about three times greater than that of MoE. Training courses areorganized occasionally for the employees of MoEFWA and EFA.Chapter 2: ECONOMIC AND REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTALPROTECTIONRecommendation 2.1:(a) The Ministry of Environment should improve the current permit system by preparing clear procedures andguidelines, and when necessary adjusting the existing legislation. A first step should be to introduceappropriate permit conditions with threshold limit values for pollutants, in line with European Unionlegislation. A further step would be to introduce an integrated environmental permit regulating emissionsto air, water and soil; (see also recommendation 9.1)(b) The Ministry of Environment should update its environmental quality standards in line with EuropeanUnion standards. As a first step, the system of environmental standards should concentrate on the majorpollutants.