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Albania

Safe Communities (AL0064)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Albania Action Plan 2018-2020

Action Plan Cycle: 2018

Status: Active

Institutions

Lead Institution: Ministry of Justice

Support Institution(s): CAC /MJ ADB DPPSH ILDKPKI, CAC /MJ ADB DPPSH ILDKPKI

Policy Areas

Anti-Corruption, Anti-Corruption Institutions, Audits, Capacity Building, E-Government, Public Participation, Science & Technology

IRM Review

IRM Report: Albania Design Report 2018-2020

Starred: Pending IRM Review

Early Results: Pending IRM Review

Design i

Verifiable: Yes

Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information , Public Accountability , Technology

Potential Impact:

Implementation i

Completion: Pending IRM Review

Description

COMPONENT IV: Open governance for creating safe communities
The policy goal of this activity is:
• Control and denunciation of corrupt practices in public institutions by the AntiCorruption Task Force
• Increasing the transparency of the National Coordinator against Corruption in
monitoring the implementation of the Cross-Sectorial Anti-Corruption Strategy.
• Encourage citizens to use mechanisms for denouncing and preventing corruption
• Improving the handling of counter-corruption denunciations
• The strengthening of anti-corruption prevention mechanisms
COMPONENT IV: OPEN GOVERNANCE FOR CREATING SAFE COMMUNITIES
Leading institution Ministry of Justice
Other participants Government CAC /MJ
ADB
DPPSH
ILDKPKI
Civil society
Private Sector
“Open Society for Albania” SOROS
INFOCIP
Status quo or problem / issue being
addressed
Corruption is the main obstacle to the path of sustainable political,
economic and social development of states. In 2013, Albania marked
again for the third year last country side from the countries of the region
in the ranking of the global corruption perception index, thus taking the
mark as the most corrupt country in Europe. Decline - the rise of public
perception over the last 10 years, objectively, coincides with
committed or lacking governance reforms. For this reason, the
government considers public perception of corruption not only as an
indicator of its (corruption) state of affairs but also as a measure of the
success or failure of government policies and programs in the fight
against corruption.
Against this background of facts and this political and social
awareness, with the ultimate goal of modernizing governance in the
country, the government is committed to uncompromising and zero
tolerance against corruption by giving this public policy the priority it
deserves.
The priority of the government in this area is best suited to the
conditionality set by the European Union to open negotiations for EU
membership. The fight against corruption is one of the five policies that
our country is advised to follow with priority in the country's European
integration process. Likewise, prevention and punishment of
corruption is an obligation deriving from Albania's adherence to
29
international instruments for the fight against corruption such as the
United Nations Convention against Corruption, the Council of Europe
Criminal Convention against Corruption, the Council of Europe's Civil
Conven- tion against Corruption etc.
In response to the country's development needs and legitimate
expectations of our public and our international partners, the
government aims to undertake an anti-corruption effort that includes a
threefold preventive, punitive and aesthetic approach. Commitments
undertaken and set objectives are in line with the obligations stemming
from the Stabilization and Association Agreement and EC
recommendations for Albania to join the European Union.
Corruption and its fight continue to be one of the major challenges and
one of the major crosscutting priorities for Albania. During 2007-2010,
governmental reforms have aimed at modernizing state administration
and its work processes, thus contributing to preventing corruption in
areas where corruption was at very high levels and where the impact
on the country's economy was significant.
Thus, through regulatory reforms in the field of auditing, the creation
of an electronic procurement system in order to increase transparency
in the field of public procurement, increased the performance of the
government in these areas, as evidenced by the composite indicators of
various international institutions. Likewise, the establishment of the
National Business Registration Center, the National Business
Licensing Center, and the establishment of E-Tax and E-Customs
systems, has considerably alleviated the relevant administrative
procedures and reduced the personal contacts of service users / seekers
with the administration, and has contributed to reducing the level of
corruption in these sectors.
Main objective / Purpose of the policy The policy goal of this activity is to control and denunciation the
corrupt practices in public institutions by the Anti-Corruption
Task Force
OGP challenge affected by engagement Improvin
g public
services
More
efficient
manageme
nt of public
resources
Increase
public
integrity
Increasing
corporate
accountabil
ity
Creating a
safer
community
X X X X
It is important to improve: Transpar
ency
Responsibil
ity
Citizen Participation Technology
and
Innovation
X X
Measurable and
verifiable
achievements to
accomplish
engagement
Result
Indicators
Output
Indicator
s
Responsib
le
Institution
New or
continued
engagement
from the
2016-2018
action plan
Start date End date
30
4.1.1 Establish
control groups
No. of control
groups of
control reports;

No. of the
measures taken
at the end of
the controls;

No. of the
cases referred
to the
prosecutor
Improve
the
corruptio
n
perceptio
n index
CAC MJ New
engagement
April
2018
Continues
4.1.2 Draft a
calendar / control
plan
New
engagement
April
2018
Continues
4.1.3 Conduct audits
in public institutions
New
engagement
April
2018
Continues
4.1.4 Finding /
compiling the audit
report
New
engagement
April
2018
Continues
4.1.5 Proposed
measures
2
Main objective / Purpose of the policy The policy goal of this activity is to increase the transparency of
the National Coordinator against Corruption in monitoring the
implementation of the Cross-Sectoral Anti-Corruption
Strategy.
OGP challenge affected by engagement Improvin
g public
services
More
efficient
management
of public
resources
Increase
public
integrity
Increasing
corporate
accountab
ility
Creating a safer
community
X X
It is important to improve: Transpar
ency
Responsibili
ty
Citizen Participation Technology and
Innovation
X X X X
Measurable and
verifiable
achievements to
accomplish
engagement
Result
Indicators
Output
Indicator
s
Responsible
Institution
New or
continued
engagemen
t from the
2016-2018
action plan
Start date End date
4.2.1 Online CAC
communications on
TF CA control cases
CAC
Reporting
Publication of
dhënave të
kontrollit
Informin
g the
public
about
rastet e
korrupsi
onit me
mjete
audiovizuale,
etj
CAC/MJ New
engagemen
t
April
2018
Continuing
4.2.2 Publication and
Accessibility of
publikut dhe grupeve
të interesuara për
gjetjet e kontrolleve
të kryera
New
engagemen
t
April
2018
Continuing
31
3
Main objective / Purpose of the policy The purpose of the policy of this activity is to encourage citizens
to use mechanisms for denouncing and preventing corruption
OGP challenge affected by engagement Improving
public
services
More
efficient
manageme
nt of
public
resources
Increase
public
integrity
Increasing
corporate
accountab
ility
Creating a safer
community
It is important to improve: Transparen
cy
Responsib
ility
Citizen Participation Technology and
Innovation
X X
Measurable and
verifiable
achievements to
accomplish
engagement
Result
Indicators
Output
Indicators
Responsib
le
Institution
New or
continued
engagemen
t from the
2016-2018
action plan
Start Date End date
4.3.1 Periodic
reporting of ADB on
platform
denunciations
Peridic ratio
produced and
made public
Public
informatio
n on
corruption
cases with
audiovisual
means,
etc.
ADB New
engagemen
t
October
2018
Continuing
4
Main objective / Purpose of the policy The policy goal of this activity is to improve the treatment of
denunciations against corruption
OGP challenge affected by the
commitment
Improving
public
services
More
efficient
manageme
nt of
public
resources
Increasing
public
integrity
Increasing
corporate
accountab
ility
Creating a safer
community
X X X X
It is important to improve: Transparen
cy
Responsib
ility
Citizen Participation Technology and
Innovation
32
X X X X
Measurable and
verifiable
achievements to
fulfill the
commitment
Result
Indicators
Output
Indicators
Responsib
le
Institution
New or
continued
committme
nt from the
2016-2018
action plan
Start date End date
4.4.1 Improved
handling of
denunciations against
corruption
Tracking,
investigating
and
prioritizing
treatment by
specialized
structures
against
corruption of
citizens'
denunciations
Keeping
comparable
data on highlevel
corruption
offenses
Interinstitutional
reconciliation
for the
criminal
offenses of
high-level
corruption
investigation
Increasing
the
number of
complaint
s against
corruption
in the
administra
tion;
Increase
of interinstitution
al
cooperatio
n in
investigati
ng highlevel
corruption
cases
DPPSH New
engagemen
t
Trimester
4, 2018
2020
5
Main objective / Purpose of the policy The policy goal of this activity is to strengthen anti-corruption
prevention mechanisms
OGP challenge affected by
committment
Improving
public
services
More
efficient
manageme
nt of
public
resources
Increase
public
integrity
Increasing
corporate
accountab
ility
Creating a safer
community
X X X X
It is important to improve: Transparen
cy
Responsib
ility
Citizen Participation Technology and
Innovation
33
X X X X
Measurable and
verifiable
achievements to
fulfill the
commitment
Result
Indicators
Output
Indicators
Responsib
le
Institution
New or
continued
committme
nt from the
2016-2018
action plan
Start date End date
4.5.1 Completion of
the procurement
procedure and
signature of the
software
development contract
The
declaration of
assets online
by declaring
subjects
The
declaratio
n of assets
online by
declaring
subjects
ILDKPK
I
New
committme
nt
Tremeste
rI, 2018
Tremester I,
2018
4.5.2 Completion of
procurement
procedure and
signing contract for
hardware
infrastructure
Tremeste
r 3, 2018
Tremester 3,
2018
4.5.3 Software design Tremeste
r 4, 2018
Tremester 4,
2018
4.5.4 System
development and
infrastructure
building
Tremeste
r4, 2018
Tremester 4,
2018
4.5.5 Implementation,
virtualization /
termination of the
operating system,
installing

IRM Midterm Status Summary

4. Open governance for creating safe communities

Milestones: [28]

The policy goal of this activity is to control and denunciation the corrupt practices in public institutions by the Anti-Corruption Task Force.

4.1.1 Establish control groups

4.1.2 Draft a calendar / control plan

4.1.3 Conduct audits in public institutions

4.1.4 Finding / compiling the audit report

4.1.5 Proposed measures

The policy goal of this activity is to increase the transparency of the National Coordinator against Corruption in monitoring the implementation of the Cross-Sectoral Anti-Corruption Strategy.

4.2.1 Online CAC communications on TF CA control cases

4.2.2 Publication and Accessibility of publikut dhe grupeve të interesuara për

         gjetjet e kontrolleve të kryera

The purpose of the policy of this activity is to encourage citizens to use mechanisms for denouncing and preventing corruption

4.3.1 Periodic reporting of ADB [29] on platform denunciations

The policy goal of this activity is to improve the treatment of denunciations against corruption.

4.4.1 Improved handling of denunciations against corruption

The policy goal of this activity is to strengthen anti-corruption prevention mechanisms.

4.5.1 Completion of the procurement procedure and signature of the software

         development contract

4.5.2 Completion of procurement procedure and signing contract for

          hardware infrastructure

4.5.3 Software design

4.5.4 System development and infrastructure building

4.5.5 Implementation, virtualization / termination of the operating system,

         installing

Start Date: 2018

End Date: 2020

Context and Objectives

This commitment aims to strengthen Albania’s anticorruption institutions and mechanisms by:

  • increasing the effectiveness of Albania’s two main anticorruption bodies, the Anticorruption Task Force and the High Inspectorate of Declaration and Audit of Assets and Conflicts of Interests (HDAACI),
  • increasing the transparency of the National Coordinator on Anticorruption (NCA),
  • monitoring the implementation of the Cross-Sectoral Anticorruption Strategy, [30]
  • encouraging citizens to use mechanisms for denouncing corruption, such as the shqiperiaqeduam.al platform and improve the handling of these denunciations.

The HIDAACI is the main body responsible for collecting asset declarations and identifying conflicts of interest, whereas the Anticorruption Task Force is an administrative body that handles and investigates denunciations of corruption. The Task Force, as part of its inspections, provides the NCA with proposals for improving legislation or addressing corrupt practices.

The role of the HIDAACI in detecting conflicts of interest and checking asset declarations was strengthened with the adoption of the Law on Whistleblowing and whistleblower protection in 2016. In addition, HIDAACI plays an important role in the implementation of the Law on the transitional reevaluation process. However, according to European Commission’s 2018 Report on Albania, HIDAACI’s administrative, technical, and financial capacity needs to be further strengthened to cope with asset declaration checks. [31] Furthermore, at the time this action plan was submitted, Albania had not yet launched an online asset declaration system.

This commitment proposes a variety of activities that make it relevant to the OGP value of public accountability, because the activities aim to improve the handling of citizen denunciations of corruption. It is also relevant to access to information due to the proposed publishing of information on corruption cases with audio-visual tools, and creating an online asset declaration system, among others. The commitment’s milestones are verifiable.

Establishing the control groups, producing inspection reports, and making the reports public could improve the anticorruption framework in Albania, though these activities are not by themselves enough to punish reported corruption cases. The control groups could help NCA to collect, analyze, monitor, and track records of corruption cases. At the time of drafting the action plan, public officials submitted asset declarations manually to HIDAACI. By establishing an online asset declaration system, Albania is taking an important step towards strengthening the auditing and verification mechanism of private interests of officials. Asset declarations can be verified faster, more efficiently and more transparently. Therefore, the commitment could have a moderate potential impact overall.

Next steps

For effective implementation of the commitment, the IRM suggests the following:

  • Ensure that the corruptive case tracking system data in public institutions to be public (taking into account necessary data protection and confidentiality).
  • Reactivate the preexisting web-based system of harmonized statistics and track records of corruption cases named act-albania.al. The use of this system could help the NCA collect corruption data through the standard application forms, analysis, monitoring, and tracking records of corruption cases in public institutions, in order to improve the quality of NCA office’s reporting.
  • The government could carry out a public awareness campaign regarding the functioning of the online asset declaration system.
  • Publish information with reports’ content, generated from the online asset declaration system, by publishing them on the new open data portal (under Commitment 2).

[28] For the complete text of this commitment, see: “The Open Government Partnership Fourth Open Government National Action Plan for Albania 2018–2020”, Open Government Partnership, 10 January 2019, https://www.opengovpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Albania_Action-Plan_2018-2020_EN.pdf.

[29] Agency for Dialogue and Co-Government (Agjensia per Dialog dhe Bashkeqeverisje)

[30] “Passport of Indicators: Inter-sectoral strategy against corruption (Albania)”, ARS, http://www.drejtesia.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/passport_indicators.pdf.

[31] “Commission Staff Working Document: Albania 2018 Report”, European Commission, 17 April 2018, https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/20180417-albania-report.pdf.

Commitments

  1. Create and implement integrity plans across all ministeries

    AL0065, 2020, Anti-Corruption

  2. Creation of online beneficial ownership register

    AL0066, 2020, Anti-Corruption

  3. Establish online portal for feedback on public service delivery

    AL0067, 2020, E-Government

  4. Expand open data portal and promote access

    AL0068, 2020, Access to Information

  5. Implement citizen assessment process to improve public service delivery

    AL0069, 2020, E-Government

  6. Establish directorate to improve citizens' access to legal aid

    AL0070, 2020, Access to Justice

  7. Publish more accessible and transparent information on Ministry of Justice website

    AL0071, 2020, E-Government

  8. Publish accessible budget information online for citizen engagement

    AL0072, 2020, E-Government

  9. Improve reporting on public finance information

    AL0073, 2020, E-Government

  10. Transparency of Government Reporting

    AL0061, 2018, E-Government

  11. e-Government

    AL0062, 2018, Access to Information

  12. Improved Business Regulation

    AL0063, 2018, Capacity Building

  13. Safe Communities

    AL0064, 2018, Anti-Corruption

  14. Improvement of Database/Portal with Coordinators’ Data of the Right to Information and Transparency Programs

    AL0044, 2016, Access to Information

  15. Budget Transparency

    AL0045, 2016, E-Government

  16. Integrated Registry of Citizens’ Housing

    AL0046, 2016, Citizenship & Immigration

  17. Establishment of Electronic Registry for Public Notification and Consultation

    AL0047, 2016, E-Government

  18. Digital Archive

    AL0048, 2016, E-Government

  19. Creating a Database for Archiving and Publication of Research Funds and Programs in Albania

    AL0049, 2016, E-Government

  20. Commitment to Publish Online Central and Local Government Legislation in Open Systems and for Free

    AL0050, 2016, Capacity Building

  21. Commitment to Open Standards for Contracting

    AL0051, 2016, Access to Information

  22. Starred commitment Implementation of the Law "On Protection of Whistleblowers", Capacity Building, Amendments and Its Bylaws

    AL0052, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  23. Provision of Electronic Services

    AL0053, 2016, Capacity Building

  24. Establishment of Multifunctional Centralized System for Building Permits

    AL0054, 2016, Capacity Building

  25. Establishment and Distribution of Digital Counters

    AL0055, 2016, E-Government

  26. Service Passport Standardization

    AL0056, 2016, Capacity Building

  27. Citizen Card

    AL0057, 2016, Capacity Building

  28. Electronic System of Registration of e-Prescription in the Republic of Albania

    AL0058, 2016, E-Government

  29. Electronic Monitoring System of Forests

    AL0059, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  30. Integrated Electronic System for Professional Licensing of Individuals and Legal Entities That Will Operate in the Field of Study Design and Supervision of Commissioning of Construction Works

    AL0060, 2016, E-Government

  31. Standardization of Corruption Complaints

    AL0031, 2014, Anti-Corruption

  32. Electronic Registry of Energy and Industry Permits

    AL0032, 2014, E-Government

  33. Implementation of Public Expenses Module in "Open Data" Format

    AL0033, 2014, Access to Information

  34. Promoting OGP Values Among Local Authorities

    AL0034, 2014, Public Participation

  35. Database on Economic Assitance Beneficiaries

    AL0035, 2014, E-Government

  36. Electronic Portal on Water Resources Administration and Management

    AL0036, 2014, E-Government

  37. Single Window

    AL0037, 2014, E-Government

  38. Electronic Access to Protected Areas

    AL0038, 2014, E-Government

  39. National Geoportal

    AL0039, 2014, E-Government

  40. e-Albania

    AL0040, 2014, E-Government

  41. e-Document

    AL0041, 2014, E-Government

  42. Starred commitment Law on Whistleblowers Protection

    AL0042, 2014, Anti-Corruption

  43. Police Service Offices

    AL0043, 2014, E-Government

  44. Open Data Portal

    AL0001, 2012, Access to Information

  45. e-Acts

    AL0002, 2012, E-Government

  46. e-Parliament

    AL0003, 2012, E-Government

  47. Extension of the Governmental Network, GOVNET

    AL0004, 2012, E-Government

  48. e-Government Interoperability Framework, e-GIF

    AL0005, 2012, E-Government

  49. Government Datacenter

    AL0006, 2012, E-Government

  50. Excise System

    AL0007, 2012, E-Government

  51. Starting of the e-Tax System

    AL0008, 2012, E-Government

  52. Starred commitment Online State Matura

    AL0009, 2012, E-Government

  53. The Regulation on Ethics in Research and Publishing

    AL0010, 2012, Education

  54. Digitalization of Higher Education Accreditation Process

    AL0011, 2012, E-Government

  55. U-Gov System

    AL0012, 2012, E-Government

  56. Online Inspections of Courts and Judicial Hearings

    AL0013, 2012, E-Government

  57. Digitalization of the File Transfer Process

    AL0014, 2012, Judiciary

  58. e-Employment Project

    AL0015, 2012, E-Government

  59. e-Concessions Procedures

    AL0016, 2012, Anti-Corruption

  60. Amendment of the Law “On the Right to Information for Official Documents”

    AL0017, 2012, Access to Justice

  61. Drafting a New Law on "Notice and Consultation"

    AL0018, 2012, Legislation & Regulation

  62. Tracking Project

    AL0019, 2012, E-Government

  63. Digitalization of the Notary Register

    AL0020, 2012, Access to Justice

  64. Online Citizens’ Claims in the Judiciary System

    AL0021, 2012, Access to Justice

  65. Work Inspection, Online Complaint

    AL0022, 2012, E-Government

  66. Financial Module of All Educational Institutions

    AL0023, 2012, Education

  67. Starred commitment Audio and Video Recording of Judicial Hearings

    AL0024, 2012, E-Government

  68. Starred commitment e-Albania Portal

    AL0025, 2012, E-Government

  69. e-Inspection Portal

    AL0026, 2012, E-Government

  70. Starred commitment Portal Www.Gjykata.Gov.Al

    AL0027, 2012, E-Government

  71. Disclosure of the List of Payments Made Daily by the Government Units

    AL0028, 2012, Access to Information

  72. e-Procurement System for All Small Purchases of Public Procurement

    AL0029, 2012, Anti-Corruption

  73. Implementation of the EITI Recommendations

    AL0030, 2012, Anti-Corruption

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