OSCE Presence in Albania supports study visit of parliamentarians to Lake Constance to learn about multilateral co-operation and parliamentary oversight

A delegation of members of Albania’s Parliamentary Committee on Productive Activities, Trade and Environment, consisting of representatives of both the ruling majority and opposition parties, participated in a study visit to Lake Constance from 19 to 23 October 2018 to learn about cross-border co-operation with regards to managing the lake. The visit was organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania as part of a custom-tailored programme highlighting multilateral co-operation between parliaments and parliamentary oversight mechanisms.

The delegation attended the International Lake Constance Conference at the invitation of the Lake Constance Parliamentary Commission.

“Participating in the International Lake Constance Conference was an extremely worthwhile experience,” said Eduard Shalsi, who headed the delegation. “Lake Constance is jointly managed in a successful way by Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Albania and its neighbours can borrow from this experience with the aim of applying it to the Lakes Scutari, Ohrid and Prespa. I am thankful to the OSCE Presence in Albania for supporting this visit.”

The delegation learned about the obligations shared by the involved parties, who co-operate on a regular basis, and success stories and challenges. The discussions focused on the cross-border management of lakes, sustainable use of natural resources, rehabilitation of water bodies, and the involvement of different levels of policymakers in these processes.

The delegation visited several lake maintenance facilities, including waste water treatment plants, and received information on the procedures, management, and financial and human resources needed to operate them. They also participated in the Third Special Lake Conference organized by the Ministry for Environment, Climate and Energy of the German State of Baden Württemberg, on the sustainable use and rehabilitation of lakes, and met representatives of the Integrated Commission for the Transboundary Management of Lake Constance.

The activity was organized as part of the inception phase of the OSCE Presence’s extra-budgetary project on supporting the parliament and civic education in Albania. The project will begin in November 2018 and will be funded by the Swiss Government.