Workshop on Corruption Proofing for the draft law “On the Mountain Package”

On February 10, 2024, the Albanian Center for Economic Research (ACER), in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), organized the Workshop on Corruption Proofing for the draft law “On the Mountain Package”. This workshop was held with the aim of increasing transparency and improving the supervisory role of the Albanian Parliament to minimize corruption risks and eliminate the risk factors that generate them.

Key stakeholder from civil society, public institutions, and international organizations took part in discussions that examined the improvement of this important draft law for sustainable economic development in the country’s mountainous areas and the strengthening of good practices to increase the accountability of institutions. Based on the experiences and recommendations of experts, the activity also highlighted the findings from the preliminary corruption assessment of the draft law.

Speakers shared their expertise, opportunities, and challenges related to the implementation of the draft law “On the Mountain Package” as well as recommendations for further improving the legal framework.

The workshop helped generate ideas for improving this draft law. This is an important step toward balancing economic growth with national security, helping Albania move forward as a democratic and developed country. The workshop emphasized the importance of addressing critical challenges, mitigating risks to the national economy, and maintaining national order and security.

Zef Preçi, Executive Director of ACER emphasized ACER’s commitment to combating corruption and promoting institutional transparency, presenting the “corruption-proofing” initiative in collaboration with WFD, which will be reviewed by parliamentary committees. He also discussed the importance of the Mountain Package for sustainable development and citizen participation, expressing gratitude to partners for their support.

Valbona Kuko highlighted the parliament’s crucial role in preventing corruption, stressing the unanimous approval of the methodology for this purpose and the inclusion of corruption assessment in the Parliament’s regulations. She also underscored the significance of the Mountain Package and the need for a parliamentary hearing, emphasizing the contribution of civil society in this process.

Simone Charters pointed out that transparency is not just about providing information but about empowering citizens to influence decision-making and policies that reflect their interests. She highlighted the Mountain Package as an opportunity to enhance transparency and the inclusion of marginalized groups in governance processes, ensuring social justice and equality.

Agenda and Invitation:

ACER and WFD Workshop Inivitation and Agenda

Presentations during the event:

Photos during the event: