OSCE launches project for the modernization of Albanian Parliament
(Eric Filipink/OSCE)An OSCE project funded by the Dutch Government aims at
modernizing the Albanian Parliament. (Eric Filipink/OSCE) Photo details
Tirana, 12 December 2001 (OSCE) - The OSCE Presence in Albania has signed an agreement with the Dutch Government, through the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Tirana, for a 786,629 euros project to modernize the capacity of the Assembly of the Republic of Albania over a three-year period.
The project will be focused on three areas. The first will be a long-term training programme for Members of Parliament (MPs) and their staff, including the establishment of a permanent training capacity within Parliament itself. The second part will create a research and advisory unit to support the work of MPs and parliamentary commissions. The third component will support outreach activities designed to promote public greater awareness of the role of Parliament and greater responsibility to the electorate on the part of MPs.
"A strong and active Parliament is necessary for the development of democracy in Albania", said the Netherlands Ambassador, Johan Blankenberg. "I see this project as a way to strengthen Parliament's ability to oversee the appropriate allocation of resources and to ensure that the Government is accountable to the people through their parliamentary representatives".
Although Parliament is the focal point of national sovereignty and has an essential role in the democratic process, limited attention has been given to its needs as an institution. The project will strengthen the technical capacity of the Albanian Parliament so it can fulfil its fundamental function of overseeing and monitoring the Government, including the budgetary aspects of its activities.
"It is important to remember that all Albanian institutions are derived from Parliament and are responsible to it", said Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, welcoming the Dutch support. "The Albanian people need Parliament to be active in the fight against corruption, organised crime - including trafficking in human beings - and in reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth."
Given Albania's political objectives of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, this project will make use of resources available from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament and will also be implemented in co-ordination with the World Bank.
The project will be focused on three areas. The first will be a long-term training programme for Members of Parliament (MPs) and their staff, including the establishment of a permanent training capacity within Parliament itself. The second part will create a research and advisory unit to support the work of MPs and parliamentary commissions. The third component will support outreach activities designed to promote public greater awareness of the role of Parliament and greater responsibility to the electorate on the part of MPs.
"A strong and active Parliament is necessary for the development of democracy in Albania", said the Netherlands Ambassador, Johan Blankenberg. "I see this project as a way to strengthen Parliament's ability to oversee the appropriate allocation of resources and to ensure that the Government is accountable to the people through their parliamentary representatives".
Although Parliament is the focal point of national sovereignty and has an essential role in the democratic process, limited attention has been given to its needs as an institution. The project will strengthen the technical capacity of the Albanian Parliament so it can fulfil its fundamental function of overseeing and monitoring the Government, including the budgetary aspects of its activities.
"It is important to remember that all Albanian institutions are derived from Parliament and are responsible to it", said Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, welcoming the Dutch support. "The Albanian people need Parliament to be active in the fight against corruption, organised crime - including trafficking in human beings - and in reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth."
Given Albania's political objectives of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, this project will make use of resources available from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament and will also be implemented in co-ordination with the World Bank.