Thursday, October 15, 2015

Following the advocacy and continues contacts created by the Academy of Political Studies (APS), the Parliamentary Committee of Productive Activity, Trade and Environment, held two additional hearing sessions with the group of interest about the draft law “On energy Efficiency”. The APS offered all the support and coordinated every detail for the participation of several actors from public institutions, donors, private sector, civil society and media, thanks to the support of the GIZ Open Regional Fund for South East Europe- Energy Efficiency in frame of the Public Dialogue on Sustainable Use of Energy project.   The first hearing was held on 12 October 2015 with the participation of the public institutions as the Albanian Electro-Energy Corporate and National Agency of Natural Resources, which answered to the questions of the MPs regarding different modalities of the draft law. The second hearing, on 14 October 2015, was dedicated to the CSOs, scholars and donors in the sector.  Invited to the committee were representatives of associations of constructers, architects and environmental organizations, international donors in this area as GIZ and UNDP as well as representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Industry, etc.
The discussion focused on the creation of the National Fund of Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency Agency. Civic activists and experts brought their respective recommendations based on best European and regional experience. These recommendations aim to create the proper terrain for the implementation of energy efficiency legislation.
As results of these hearings, over 15 recommendations were officially submitted by the participants to the committee bodies and the representatives from the Ministry of Energy. The draft which will be sent for approval to the plenary session on the following weeks will reflect these recommendations.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Eduart Shalsi, stressed the importance of participation of the civil society, which will improve the quality and implementation of the legislation.
Media showed a great interest on the activities.