Photo Credit: Paul Cohn   Mr. Gjergj Buxhuku, Administrator of Konfindustria business council discusses the lobbying effort underway for the draft administrative court law at the roundtable meeting held in Tirana on Thursday. Dozens of business associations like Konfindustria intend to make a strong case to the new Parliament and push the law to the front of the legislative body’s fall agenda.

Business Community Steps Up Administrative Courts Push

TIRANA, SEPTEMBER 3, 2009     Heads of 28 business associations from all corners of the country met today in Tirana to step up efforts to lobby for an Administrative Courts law.  The associations plan an intensive campaign beginning this month aimed at mobilizing business and public support behind a law that, they say, will pave the way for a modern courts system with the capability to adjudicate administrative cases fairly and efficiently. 

Albania’s business community has long supported the creation of administrative courts, which they see as a means to protect the rights and legal interests of all citizens.  A dozen business associations joined forces in 2009 to lobby Parliament in its final sessions to pass a draft law, to no avail. This larger group of businesses intends to make an even stronger case to the new Parliament and push the law to the front of the legislative body’s fall agenda.

At the event, USAID Albania Director Roberta Mahoney commended the extraordinary efforts of the business community thus far to advocate, in a concerted way, for judicial reform.  “It is largely in your hands, “declared Ms. Mahoney, “to make decision-makers…turn the plans for establishing the Administrative Courts into an institution that will benefit the business community, public institutions, and the public at large.” Under the Millennium Challenge Corporation Albania Threshold Agreement II, USAID will work with Albania’s government and judiciary to establish the administrative courts once the law is passed. 

The second stage of the MCC Albania Threshold Program is a two-year, $15.7 million agreement between Albania and the United States, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and administered by USAID, which aims to strengthen the rule of law, reduce corruption, and increase public oversight, thereby improving the business environment in Albania through IT solutions and technical assistance.