environmental performance review albania

182 Pages·2003·1.71 MB·English

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
Committee on Environmental Policy

ENVIRONMENTAL
PERFORMANCE REVIEW

ALBANIA

UNITED NATIONS
New York and Geneva, 2002
Environmental Performance Reviews Series No. 16

NOTE

Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined
with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations
document.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication
do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the
United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its
authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION
Sales No. E.03-II-E.23
ISBN 92-1-116838-4
ISSN 1020-4563
iii

Foreword

The Environmental Performance Reviews are intended to assist countries in transition to improve their
management of the environment by establishing baseline conditions and making concrete recommendations for
better policy implementation and performance and to integrate environmental policies into sectoral policies at
the national level. Through the Peer Review process, they also promote dialogue among UNECE member
countries and harmonization of environmental conditions and policies throughout the region.

This work was initiated by ministers at the second Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe,” in
Lucerne, in 1993. Acting on the request of the ministers, the UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy,
meeting in special session in January 1994, decided to make the Environmental Performance Reviews a part of
its regular programme. As a voluntary exercise, the Environmental Performance Review is undertaken only at
the request of the country itself at the ministerial level.

The studies are carried out by international teams of experts from the region, working closely with national
experts from the reviewed country. Through a process of broad consultations, the experts carry out a
comprehensive assessment of a wide range of issues related to the environment, covering three broad themes:
the framework for environmental policy and management, management of pollution and natural resources and
economic and sectoral integration. The team’s final report contains recommendations for further improvement,
taking into consideration the country’s progress in the current transition period.

The teams also benefit from close cooperation with other organizations in the United Nations system, including
the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Bank
and the World Health Organization.

This Environmental Performance Review is the sixteenth in the series published by the United Nations
Economic Commission. I hope that this Review will be useful to all countries in the region, to
intergovernmental and non-governmental organization and, especially, to Albania, to its Government, all
national stakeholders, to its people.

Brigita Schmögnerova
Executive Secretary
iv

Preface

In September 2001, the UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy agreed to the Albanian request for an
Environmental Performance Review (EPR).

During the preparatory mission in July 2001, final decisions were reached on both the structure and the
organizational details of the project, taking into account the considerable changes that made by the country after
the ten-year isolation.

The review mission took place in October 2001. The review team included experts from Bulgaria, Croatia,
Norway, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, together with experts from the secretariat of the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the
European Centre for Environment and Health of the World Health Organization (WHO).

In October 2002, the draft was submitted for consideration to the Ad Hoc Expert Group on Environmental
Performance Reviews. During this meeting, the Expert Group discussed the report in detail with representatives
of the Albanian Government, focusing in particular on the conclusions and recommendations. The EPR report,
as amended by the Expert Group, was then submitted for peer review to the UNECE Committee on
Environmental Policy at its annual session in Geneva on 4 to 6 November 2002. A high-level delegation from
the Government of Albania, led by the Minister of Environment, assisted the Committee in its deliberations.
The Committee adopted the recommendations as set out in this report.

Between the date of the review mission and that of the Expert and Peer Reviews, Albania had already made
significant progress, necessitating a number of changes to the draft text. Of particular importance was the
adoption of both a new comprehensive framework Law on Environmental Protection and an updated National
Environmental Action Plan (2002-2007). This is clear evidence of the increasing support that the Government
and the people of Albania are giving to environmental matters within the country. The report also notes a
number of key areas that continue to need urgent attention, including, for example, waste management, coastal
zone management and tourism, and agriculture and soil protection.

The UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy and the UNECE review team would like to thank both the
Government of Albania for its invitation to carry out this review and the many excellent national experts who
worked with the international experts and contributed with their knowledge and assistance. UNECE wishes
Albania success in carrying out the tasks before it to meet its environmental objectives, including
implementation of the recommendations contained in the present report.

UNECE would also like to express its appreciation to the Governments of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands,
Norway and Switzerland for their support, and to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office
in Tirana, the UNEP Regional Office in Europe, the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health
(ECEH), and UNEP/Grid-Arendal for participating in this Environmental Performance Review and contributing
to the report.
v

LIST OF TEAM MEMBERS

Ms. Mary Pat SILVEIRA (ECE secretariat) Team Leader
Ms. Catherine MASSON (ECE secretariat) Project Coordinator
Ms. Mijke HERTOGHS (ECE secretariat) Asst. Coordinator
Mr. Jyrki HIRVONEN (ECE secretariat) Introduction
Ms. Vanya GRIGOROVA (BULGARIA) Chapter 1
Ms. Mijke HERTOGHS (ECE secretariat) Chapter 2
Mrs. Irina KRASNOVA (RUSSIAN FEDERATION) Chapter 3
Ms. Ieva RUCEVSKA (UNEP/GRID-Arendal) Chapter 4
Ms. Eli Marie ASEN (NORWAY) Chapter 5
Ms. Catherine MASSON (ECE secretariat) Chapter 6
Mr. Ivan NARKEVITCH (ECE secretariat) Chapter 7
Ms. Stella SATALIC (CROATIA) Chapter 8
Mr. René NIJENHUIS (ECE secretariat) Chapter 9
Ms. Elisabeth CLÉMENT-ARNOLD (SWITZERLAND) Chapter 10
Mr. Ivica TRUMBIC (UNEP/PAP/RAC) Chapter 11
Ms. Bettina MENNE (WHO/ECEH) Chapter 12

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication
do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the
Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country,
territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its
frontiers or boundaries. In particular, the boundaries shown on the maps do not
imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

The preparatory mission for the project took place from 26 to 27 July 2001. The review mission was organized
from 16 to 24 October 2001.
vi
LIST OF NATIONAL CONTRIBUTORS

Albania

Tatjana Hema Ministry of Environment

Narin Panariti Ministry of Environment
Elvana Ramaj Ministry of Environment
Diana Jaho Ministry of Environment
Daniela Godo Ministry of Environment

Madalena Rroço Ministry of Environment
Bajram Mejdiaj Ministry of Environment
Alma Bako Ministry of Environment
Trajan Vasili Ministry of Environment

Xhaferr Baloshi Ministry of Environment
Bashkim Saliasi Ministry of Environment

Mirela Kamberi Ministry of Environment
Zamir Dedej Ministry of Environment
Shkelqim Mema Ministry of Environment
Spartak Sinoimeri Ministry of Environment
Klodiana Agolli Ministry of Environment
Eno Dodbiba Ministry of Environment
Ermira Fida Ministry of Environment
Bujar Reme Ministry of Environment
Margarita Lutaj Ministry of Environment
Aurela Binjaku Ministry of Environment
Kujtim Biçaku Ministry of Environment
Arben Luzati Ministry of Environment
Astrit Avdyli Ministry of Environment
Arjan Gaçe Ministry of Environment
Arben Pustina Ministry of Environment
Marieta Mima Ministry of Environment
Ermal Halimi Ministry of Environment
Sherif Lushaj Ministry of Environment
Valentina Suljoti Ministry of Environment
Shpresa Leka Ministry of Environment
Marita Selfo Ministry of Environment
Petrit Vasili Ministry of Environment
Silva Bino Ministry of Environment
Arjana Koça Ministry of Environment
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Figures..............................................................................................................................................x
List of Tables..............................................................................................................................................xi
List of Boxes............................................................................................................................................xiii
Acronyms and Abbreviations...................................................................................................................xiv
Currency..................................................................................................................................................xvii

INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................1 – 8

I.1 The Physical context.............................................................................................1
I.2 Demography.........................................................................................................2
I.3 The economic context and the transition to a market economy............................4
I.4 Institutions............................................................................................................7
I.5 The environmental context...................................................................................8

PART I: THE FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT

Chapter 1: Policy framework, legal instruments and institutional arrangements .....................11 - 20

1.1 The context.........................................................................................................11
1.2 Institutional arrangements..................................................................................11
1.3 Policies and strategies.........................................................................................13
1.4 Legal framework and implementation of environmental legislation..................14
1.5 Conclusions and recommendations....................................................................18

Chapter 2: Economic and regulatory instruments for environmental protection......................21 - 32

2.1 Background.........................................................................................................21
2.2 Regulatory instruments for environmental protection........................................21
2.3 Enforcement........................................................................................................23
2.4 Economic instruments for environmental protection..........................................24
2.5 Environmental financing and expenditures........................................................28
2.6 Conclusions and recommendations....................................................................30

Chapter 3: International cooperation.............................................................................................33 - 44

3.1 Background.........................................................................................................33
3.2 General principles and objectives for international environmental cooperation34
3.3 Bilateral, subregional and regional cooperation.................................................35
3.4 Global cooperation.............................................................................................39
3.5 International funding mechanisms......................................................................41
3.6 Conclusions and recommendations....................................................................43

Chapter 4: Environmental monitoring and information...............................................................45 - 54

4.1 Environmental monitoring..................................................................................45
4.2 Data reporting and analysis; reliability of data and use of
environmental indicators.....................................................................................47
4.3 Awareness raising and access to environmental information.............................49
4.4 Public participation in decision-making, NGO activities...................................51
4.5 Access to Justice.................................................................................................51
4.6 Conclusions and recommendations....................................................................51
viii
PART II: MANAGEMENT OF POLLUTION AND OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Chapter 5: Air management ...........................................................................................................57 - 68

5.1 State of and pressures on air quality...................................................................57
5.2 Policy objectives and management.....................................................................63
5.3 Conclusions and recommendations....................................................................67

Chapter 6: Water management.......................................................................................................69 - 86

6.1 Albania’s water resources...................................................................................69
6.2 Water uses and pressures on the water resources...............................................70
6.3 Policies, strategies and framework management................................................76
6.4 Conclusions and recommendations....................................................................82

Chapter 7: Waste management........................................................................................................87 - 98

7.1 Introduction........................................................................................................87
7.2 Industrial waste...................................................................................................87
7.3 Municipal waste generation and disposal...........................................................91
7.4 Other waste.........................................................................................................94
7.5 Policies, strategies and legal framework............................................................94
7.6 Conclusions and recommendations....................................................................96

Chapter 8: Biodiversity conservation and forest protection.........................................................99 - 110

8.1 Present state of nature.........................................................................................99
8.2 Pressures on nature...........................................................................................102
8.3 The framework for biodiversity protection.......................................................104
8.4 Conclusions and recommendations..................................................................108

PART III: SECTORAL INTEGRATION

Chapter 9: Environmental integration..........................................................................................113 - 120

9.1 Introduction......................................................................................................113
9.2 Environmental pressure....................................................................................113
9.3 Environmental integration and industrial privatization....................................116
9.4 Challenges to environmental integration..........................................................117
9.5 Conclusions and recommendations..................................................................119

Chapter 10: Environmental concerns in agriculture and soil protection....................................121 - 132

10.1 Conditions and activities in agriculture............................................................121
10.2 Environmental concerns in agriculture.............................................................122
10.3 Policy objectives and management...................................................................128
10.4 Conclusions and recommendations..................................................................130

Chapter 11: Coastal zone management (including tourism).........................................................133 – 144

11.1 Current situation along the coast......................................................................133
11.2 Pressures on the coastal area.............................................................................133
11.3 Pollution “hot spots”.........................................................................................137
11.4 Policy objectives and management...................................................................138
11.5 Conclusions and recommendations..................................................................141
ix

Chapter 12: Human health and the environment..........................................................................145 – 160

12.1 Overall health status and environmental conditions.........................................145
12.2 Environmental conditions associated with health risks....................................146
12.3 Environmental health policy and management.................................................154
12.4 Conclusions and recommendations..................................................................158

ANNEXES

Annex I Selected economic and environmental data...................................................................163
Annex II Selected multilateral and bilateral agreements..............................................................165

Sources .......................................................................................................................................169

---------
x
LIST OF FIGURES

Introduction
Figure I.1 Land use, 1997
Figure I.2 GDP – composition by sector: 1990 and 1999 (percent of the total)
Figure I.3 Map of Albania (administrative and main cities)

Chapter 2: Economic and regulatory instruments for environmental protection
Figure 2.1 Expenditures of the Ministry of Environment, 1998-2001 (million leks)

Chapter 3: International cooperation
Figure 3.1 Phare programmes breakdown (as % of total, excluding Special Programmes), 2000

Chapter 5: Air management
Figure 5.1.a Emission of CO per capita (tons/capita), 1994
2
Figure 5.1.b Emission of CO per unit of GDP (tons/million US$), 1994
2

Chapter 6: Water management
Figure 6.1 Map – Albania hydrographic network and hydrographic basin boundaries
Figure 6.2 Use of groundwater (as % of total), 1996

Chapter 7: Waste management
Figure 7.1 Map - Major contaminated sites in Albania
Figure 7.2 Municipal waste generation in selected countries, mid-1990s (kg/capita)

Chapter 10: Environmental concerns in agriculture and soil protection
Figure 10.1 Map - Soils affected by drought, erosion and other pressures

Chapter 12: Human health and the environment
Figure 12.1 Information Flow in the Ministry of Health and its Institutes