1. CONSTRUCTION PERMITS FOR A COMPETITIVE REGION Mrs. Eglantina Gjermeni Minister of Urban Development, Republic of Albania

2. Goal We are determined to establish an institutional, economic and social environment that favors the sustainable territorial development. Transparency shall be central to the territory planning and development, including the governing legal processes thereof. We shall make sure that the “balance between public and private interests” in land development and administration of the “right to development” are an integral part of the mindset and implementation in practice. 2

3. Our approach  Putting control over the entire territory  Planning processes  Legislative reform 3

4. Planning Processes  General National Plan  Integrated Intersectorial Plan for the economic zone Tirana – Durres  Integrated Intersectorial Plan for the Coast  Assisting 26 municipalities in drafting their General Local Plans 4

5. Legislative Reform  Law nr. 107/2014, dated 31.07.2014 “On territorial planning and development” (Law 107/2014)  Council of Ministers Decision nr. 408 date 13.05.2015, “On the approval of the territorial development regulation” 5

6. Legal Improvements  Introduction of the e – building permit  One Stop Shop provision  Integrated Territorial Register: enhanced transparency  Unified permitting procedures for all municipalities 6

7. E-building permitting in Albania  Designing the e-building permit software: fully operational by 2016  On-going general reform of the Albanian Government for the digitization and simplification of services: e-Albania portal  Objective: establish the online/paperless building permit process as the sole standard procedure 7

8. What comes next?  Setting up the new Agency for Territorial Development  Completion of territorial planning processes as fundamental pre-requisite to a sustainable construction activity  Guideline manuals and trainings for municipal building authorities 8

9. Thank You 9