FLASH NEWS
Draft/ The Prefect gains more power in the territory, the Maritime Prefect is created for coastal areas
2025-12-18 17:23:44 / AKTUALITET
The government has submitted for public consultation the draft law on several amendments and additions to law no. 107/2016 “On the District Prefect”, a legal intervention that aims to reshape the role of the prefect as a representative of the Council of Ministers in the territory and to strengthen the coordination mechanisms between central institutions and local government. The changes come at a time when the challenges of public safety, civil emergencies and coastal zone management have increased significantly, especially due to tourist developments and environmental pressure .
The essence of the draft law lies in expanding the prefect's powers, positioning him as a key inter-institutional coordination node at the regional level. According to the explanatory report, the current law has revealed gaps in the coordination between central institutions, local self-government units and security structures, which has affected the efficiency of public policies in the territory. For this reason, the draft law provides for a more active role of the prefect in linking the activities of the state administration with local government, as well as in reporting directly to the Prime Minister in cases where problems cannot be resolved at the ministerial level.
One of the main innovations is related to the strengthening of the role of the prefect in the field of public security. The draft law provides for mandatory cooperation and coordination with the State Police and the Municipal Police, as well as regular consultation with the mayors of municipalities on issues of order, peace and security in the community. The prefect also receives the right to convene and chair meetings of the Local Public Security Councils, subsequently monitoring the implementation of the agreed measures in cooperation with the responsible institutions.
Another important dimension of the draft law is the expanded role of the prefect in managing civil emergencies. The legal amendments charge the prefect with the responsibility for coordinating with local self-government units, the National Civil Protection Agency and the Armed Forces, with the aim of improving the institutional response to crisis situations and natural disasters .
The most prominent innovation of the legal package is the creation of the institution of the “Maritime Prefect”, a new structure aimed at strengthening governance and security in coastal areas. According to the draft law, two maritime prefects will be appointed, with centers in Durrës and Vlora, with jurisdiction above and below the Seman River. The Maritime Prefect will have broad responsibilities in coordinating maritime security, monitoring the coastline, managing marine resources, beach security, combating illegal activities at sea and directing structures for maritime civil emergencies.
The explanatory report argues that the creation of the Maritime Prefect is necessary due to the intensification of tourist and economic activities on the coast, as well as the increase in environmental risks. Through this structure, the government aims for a more unified implementation of state policies in coastal areas and a more structured reporting to the Council of Ministers for integrated coastal management and beach safety.
From an institutional and constitutional point of view, the draft law is assessed as being in line with the Constitution and domestic legislation, while it does not aim at direct approximation with the acquis of the European Union. Regarding the financial cost, the document foresees additional effects on the state budget for the establishment of the Maritime Prefect administration, but emphasizes that these expenses will be covered within the medium-term budget ceilings 2026–2028, while the full detailing will be done at a later stage.
Overall, the proposed changes aim to increase the institutional weight of the prefect and consolidate the role of the state in the territory, in an effort to more effectively address public safety, civil emergencies and the specific challenges of coastal areas, opening a new debate on the balance between central and local government in Albania. / ekofin.al
Happening now...
83 mandates are not immunity for Rama's friends
Nga Gentian Gaba
ideas
Teatri që fsheh prapaskenën
Nga Patrik Sadikaj
Berisha's red line and the black line of democracy in the DP
Besmir Semanaj
top
Alfa recipes
TRENDING 
services
- POLICE129
- STREET POLICE126
- AMBULANCE112
- FIREFIGHTER128