TIRANA, April 10 – Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo said the territorial and administrative reform should prioritise service quality for citizens. He said the debate should not focus only on the number of municipalities. He spoke after a government meeting on Wednesday.
Demo said the ministry works in partnership with the reform commission. In this context, he said both sides must push the process forward. He added that the ministry will implement the final outcome in the field, regardless of its final form.
He also said he does not take a position on the structure of the reform. Instead, he said ongoing work in the commission includes field meetings and consultations with local actors. These discussions cover different stakeholders involved in local governance.
At the same time, he stressed that the main priority remains the functions of municipalities. He said the debate should not be reduced to “fewer or more municipalities”. In this way, he shifted the focus toward institutional performance rather than structural numbers.
Furthermore, Demo said the process requires a detailed assessment of municipal competencies. He called for an analysis of how these powers are implemented in practice. He also highlighted the need to evaluate service quality delivered to citizens across the territory.
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