The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Michel Tarran, said in Pogradec that the territorial reform remains under discussion and that no final decision has been made so far. Asked about the consultation process, Tarran stressed that the OSCE does not impose a specific model for territorial organization. He said Albania itself must decide how to organize its administrative structure.
“Albania must decide for itself how many municipalities it should have,” the diplomat said. He added that every country has its own history, traditions, and specific needs.
Referring to the experience of OSCE participating States, Tarran noted that the organization represents 57 countries with different systems of territorial administration. He cited France, his country of origin, as an example. France has around 35,000 communes, while other countries have only a few dozen administrative units. Tarran said Albania must decide whether to keep its current 61 municipalities or change the number to 40, 100, or more.
As for whether the procedures followed so far have been appropriate, the OSCE official said it was still too early to give a final assessment. He stressed that authorities should not make any decision without broad consultations at both national and local levels. According to Tarran, that consultation process is still underway.
Tarran made the remarks while attending a meeting of the Local Public Safety Council in Pogradec. The meeting focused on strengthening security in educational institutions.
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