1. Connecting Networks – Albania Report on environmental information systems, access and exchange; Progress & Priorities June 10, Belgrade, SERBIA&MONTENEGRO JEROME SIMPSON The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe JSimpson@rec.org

2. Progress Legal Progress: In 2003, 11 new sectoral laws were introduced that each reflect on environmental monitoring, access to information and public participation. Institutional Development(s): In 2005, new IT department was created with 2 staff and included an environmental ministry center dealing with data management and provisions. ICT Capacity & know-how: One server for EEA data transmission, and EIONET program has provided training to MoE/Agriculture/Trans/Health for EAA data exchange. New equipment being purchased now under cards for a new environmental info. Exchange network.

3. Reporting & public access: Info Center (3 persons), respond immdiately to 2 requests per day. Quarterly magazine is published. Every 2 years an SoE report is produced. A website has been developed in Albanian. ICT Capacity & know-how: One server for EEA data transmission, and EIONET program has provided training to MoE/Agriculture/Trans/Health for EAA data exchange. New equipment being purchased now under cards for a new environmental info. Exchange network. Progress

4. Multi-stakeholder cooperation: Good collaboration between media, ministries and NGOs; project for the media on several different problems and how to report have resulted in regular media reporting. Resource availability: Limited funds have been dedicated to increasing public access to information. Progress

5. Priorities Reporting and public access: To publish environmental information in English on the web. To dedicate more funding to increasing environment reference information (e.g. terminology) Legal: Development of by-laws, and laws concerning EIS Institutional development: Development of a database that is in-line with EU standards and is accessible by the public. ICT capacity and know-how: To create a network between ministries and local government, and media and NGOs. Multi-stakeholder cooperation: Training for NGOs and media in how to access and distribute env. Information to the general public.

6. Resource availability: Increase human and financial resources to build capacity in ministries, NGOs and media networks. Priorities