TIRANA, Nov 6 /ATA/ Museums, cultural monuments and other cultural heritage sites across the country will be subject to new rules governing their administration, maintenance and restoration.
The draft law on several additions and amendments to the Law “On Cultural Heritage and Museums”, published for public consultation by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, aims to strengthen mechanisms for the protection, preservation and management of cultural assets by bringing the legal framework into line with international standards and Albania’s obligations in the European integration process.
One of the key innovations is the introduction of the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) instrument, which will be used to analyse the impact of plans, programmes, projects and interventions on cultural assets and protected values.
According to the draft law, the amendments aim to improve procedures for the identification, verification, designation and registration of cultural assets, while more clearly defining institutional responsibilities, deadlines and assessment methods.
The draft law aims to improve and modernise the legal framework governing cultural heritage, with a view to strengthening the protection, preservation, administration and sustainable management of both tangible and intangible cultural assets.
It also seeks to strengthen funding and support mechanisms for the owners and administrators of cultural assets, while improving provisions governing the import, export, movement and restitution of cultural assets that have been illegally removed, in line with international standards and practices in this field.
The draft law establishes clearer procedures for the maintenance, conservation, restoration and adaptation of immovable cultural assets, while enabling their integration into development processes without compromising their authenticity and cultural values. It also introduces financial support, through grants, co-financing and in-kind contributions, for privately owned cultural heritage assets.
The draft law also provides for changes to the administration of museums and collections, aligning the definition of a museum with the standards of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
It also seeks to strengthen the role of the Regional Directorates of Cultural Heritage, assigning them technical and administrative responsibilities for the preservation, protection and management of tangible cultural heritage within their respective territories.
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