Second Environmental Performance Review of Albania

Chapter 3: Information, public participation and education43With the 2008 amendment to the 2002 Law onEnvironmental Protection, No. 9890, the 12 REAsmust compile and submit to their respective regionalcouncil bi-annual reports on the state of theenvironment in the region, and also make the reportavailable to the public.In line with the provisions of the 2004 DCM No. 24,all environmental inspectorates must display in theirpremises their annual implementation plans forpublic access. Furthermore, they also haveobligations (under paragraph 16) to disclose theinspection reports carried out at companies inpossession of an environmental permit, and publishthe findings and any sanctions imposed.Based on the 2005 Prime Minister’s Order No. 202,the sector ministries are also obligated to makeavailable on their websites for public access anyenvironmental information they possess. Localauthorities also have environmental information andin big municipalities their public access could beensured via their websites.Access to informationOne of the most dynamic areas in Albania’s recentdevelopment relates to the 2010 Albania NationalReport on progress towards achieving MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs), namely, “theinvestment in information and communicationtechnology (ICT)”.Technological development also facilitated goodprogress on access to environmental information, inspite of limited budgets and human resourcesavailable for this purpose. Environmental informationis currently provided by the state bodies charged withenvironmental responsibilities, the AarhusInformation Centres (AICs) established under theframework of the Aarhus Convention and otherorganizations.As the main information provider, MoEFWA hasestablished a Division for Public Information andInformation Technology, which provides a number ofservices, such as:• Passive dissemination of environmentalinformation – by answering questions frominterested members of the public and receivingvisitors requesting environmental information.In doing so, the Division interacts withspecialized thematic units in the Ministry andthere is good cooperation established in thisrespect;• Active dissemination of information – mainlyvia the Ministry’s website but also through amonthly electronic newsletter. No information,links or guidance are available on the website,however, leading to the environmental networkof institutions at national and regional levelswhich also provide environmental information.Consequently, it is extremely difficult to identifyand gain access to all environmental informationavailable in the country. Adding all relevantlinks to the MoEFWA website will increase itsrole and functionality and facilitate easy accessand navigation for the public at large. The onlinemonthly environmental newsletter sent to morethan 700 addresses (projects, NGOs, thebusiness community) is an excellent solution inview of the budgetary limitations of theMinistry.EFA is an important player in the dissemination ofenvironmental information and raising publicawareness. As its main communication tool, EFA hasa dedicated website. However, it is neithersufficiently developed in terms of content norregularly updated. EFA drafts and publishes theannual SER which is available electronically on boththe Ministry and Agency websites, along with alimited number of paper copies.The three AICs based in Vlora, Shkodra and Tiranawere set up within the framework of theMemorandum of Cooperation in the Field ofEnvironmental Information and Implementation ofthe Aarhus Convention in Albania, betweenMoEFWA and the Organization for Security andCooperation in Europe (OSCE) office in Albania,signed in July 2006. The AIC in Tirana is located inthe Ministry as part of the Public Information andInformation Technology Division. The publicreceives information via publications produced by theAICs (whose dedicated website is at:http://www.aic.gov.al) or through local media outlets.The centres are also involved in the training of localauthority staff, raising their awareness and helpingthem to comply with the obligations under theConvention. The AICs’ advisory boards bringtogether various stakeholders such as local andcentral authorities, environmental NGOs andinterested members of the public. In 2010, a WorldBank project on Strengthening Implementation of theAarhus Convention was launched with the aim oflinking the Ministry’s Public Information andInformation Technology Division, the Tirana AICand REC Albania into a network able to ensure realtimeexchange of information.NGOs are also playing an increasing role in