OSCE Presence in Albania and Albanian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative join efforts to promote transparency at local level

The OSCE Presence in Albania and the Albanian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative signed on 2 April 2019 a co-operation agreement on joint activities to raise local capacities, promote transparency and strengthen anti-corruption efforts at local level.

In the course of this year, the Presence and the Albanian EITI Secretariat will organize four regional events that will involve the municipalities of Patos, Bulqiza, Burrel, Kukës, Përrenjas, Selenicë and Mallakastra. The events aim to raise the awareness of authorities, civil society, local communities and business community about the need to increase public benefit in the development of natural resource projects.

“The development of natural resources should go hand in hand with the benefits shared by the government, investors and the community. This development can only be effective when communities are involved. Lack of public information and community participation in development projects inevitably creates mistrust and problems even in the soundest projects”, said Bernd Borchardt, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, during a meeting with AlbEITI Director Ardit Kamberi.

The 2012 OSCE Dublin Declaration on Good Governance acknowledges the importance of transparency and takes note of the activities of multi-stakeholder partnerships and initiatives in this sphere, such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Albania became a member of EITI in May 2013.