If the new administrative-territorial reform secures the 84 votes required in Thursday’s plenary session, Albania will go from 61 to 46 municipalities. The draft approved by the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs provides for the merger of 15 existing municipalities into larger ones, while the country’s counties will remain unchanged.
The new map also provides for a reorganisation of urban centres, with 71 cities and 387 administrative units. During its review by the Legal Affairs Committee, six additional areas were granted proposed city status.
The 15 municipalities set to lose their current status
Under the draft, the following municipalities will be merged with other municipalities:
- Fushë-Arrëz → Pukë Municipality
- Klos → Mat Municipality
- Rrogozhinë → Kavajë Municipality
- Dimal → Berat Municipality
- Poliçan → Berat Municipality
- Patos → Fier Municipality
- Divjakë → Lushnjë Municipality
- Selenicë → Vlorë Municipality
- Maliq → Korçë Municipality
- Këlcyrë → Përmet Municipality
- Memaliaj → Tepelenë Municipality
- Libohovë → Gjirokastër Municipality
- Cërrik → Elbasan Municipality
- Belsh → Elbasan Municipality
- Përrenjas → Librazhd Municipality
Six areas to gain city status
Another proposed change to the new map concerns the classification of several urban centres. If the reform is approved, the following areas are expected to gain city status:
- Kastrat, in Malësi e Madhe Municipality
- Bushat, in Vau i Dejës Municipality
- Ulëz, in Mat Municipality
- Krastë, in Bulqizë Municipality
- Milot, in Kurbin Municipality
- Golem, in Kavajë Municipality
As a result, Kurbin Municipality will include the cities of Laç, Mamurras and Milot, while Kavajë Municipality, following its merger with Rrogozhinë, will include Kavajë, Rrogozhinë and Golem.
At the local government level, the municipality will remain the main unit of local self-government. The reform aims to establish a structure comprising 46 municipalities, 71 cities and 387 administrative units, while the counties will not be affected by the proposed changes.
The bill has already been approved by the Legal Affairs Committee and is expected to be put to a vote in the plenary session on October 8. It requires 84 votes to pass.
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