OSCE Presence in Albania promotes transparency in natural resources exploitation

TIRANA, 24 April 2014 - The OSCE Presence in Albania and the Ministry of Energy and Industry held today an inclusive discussion to promote the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) and explain its benefits for local communities.

Albania became an EITI-compliant country in May 2013. In 2012, Foreign Ministers of the OSCE participating States recognized the importance of transparency in economic sectors, and acknowledged the EITI’s activities in this regard.

Today’s event in Tirana aimed at creating a platform for regular discussion of the projects affecting natural resources. Raising awareness among authorities and businesses of the need to increase public benefits and explain the processes to the public is another aim of the event.

“All the stakeholders in natural resources-related projects have concerns and expectations that need to be discussed and addressed in a serious and constructive manner,” said Ambassador Florian Raunig, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania.

“Translating natural resources into sustainable economic development and prosperity for all will require open discussion in forums like this. It also requires effective co-operation between institutions and the Albanian EITI Secretariat, as well as mutual trust and participation of all the actors involved.”

Today’s forum followed regional meetings that the OSCE Presence and the Albanian EITI Secretariat have organized in the regions which particularly focus on extractive industries, such as Patos, Bulqiza and Burrel.

The Minister of Energy and Industry, the Minister of Environment, the Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Productive Activities, Trade and Environment, and the Director of the International EITI Secretariat spoke at the event.