Public Statement, 7 November 2014
Dear Sir / Madam,
Civil society in Albania has been notified by media reports that the Draft-Budget of the Albanian Government for year 2015 has already been submitted to the Albanian Parliament for reading and approval. The official notice it came from the office of the Minister of the State for Relations with the Parliament, Mrs. Ermonela Felaj, who media reported to have submitted the Draft-Budget 2015 for approval at the Parliament on 3 November 2014.
Based on her statement, the priority sectors of thhe budget for the next year are: education, health and infrastructure. She is reported by the media to have stated that the Government and the Parliament have cooperated with institutions and groups of interests to set the priorities on how to use effectively the funding in 2015. Nontheless so far the draft has not been made public either at the Council of Ministers webpage or that of the Parliament.
We would like to express our immediate concern over the fact that the Government’s draft budget for 2015 has not been consulted to date by any ministry or public institution with representatives of civil society in Albania and non-governmental organizations, thus breaking a democratic and positive tradition followed by both sides after years of advocacy work, where the state budget always has been consulted with the civil society and non-governmental organizations, as legitimate representatives of most vulnerable groups and citizens.
The organizations supporting this Public Statement on behalf of civil society in Albania, strongly urge the Albanian Parliament and you, not to approve the draft-Budget 2015, without consulting it first with civil society and non-governmental organizations. Given the experience of the public hearings that were held last year, where it was impossible to change or improve the drafted budget, we ask that this year all the parliamentary committees have the right to change and improve the Budget and that the opinions of the civil society are taken into consideration in this regard.
On the other hand, we would like to bring to your attention our request that the draft budget for 2015 is not presented in a formal standard, but translated into the percentage of GDP’s that will be dedicated to to support every social group in Albania, with special attention children, women, minorities, marginalized groups, people with disabilities etc.
Given the above, we would welcome and are willing to work closely with the Parliament and you as representatives of the parliamentary standing committees, to have a budget for our country that considers and respects the needs of the citizens.
We look forward to your support and understanding.
Sincerely,
Below follows the list of the organisations that support this Statement:
Regional Development Agency Vlora – ARZHV
Albanian Center for Population and Development (ACPD)
PINK Embassy
ARSIS
Women’s Empowerment Network in Albania (AWEN)
Human Dimension Shkodra
New Age Fier
Foundation “Harriet Martineau”
Albanian Foundation for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ADRF)
Intellectual Women of Shkodra
Women in the Focus of Development Kuçove
Institute of Urban Research
Institute of Roma Culture in Albania
Albanian Coalition for Child Education
Albanian Coalition for the Promotion of Women and Youth in Politics
Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC)
Albanian National Child Helpline (ALO 116)
Useful to Albanian Women
Observatory for Children’s Rights
Partners for Children
Gender Alliance for Development
Center for Change Vlora
Center for Roma Women’s Rights
Albanian Centre for Rehabilitation of Trauma from Torture
Res Publica
Youth in Free Initiative, Kukes
Roma Active Albania
Women’s Network ‘Equality in Decision Making’
Education & Social Environment Protection Vlore (SEEP)
Help the Life Association
Association for Cultural Rights of Children
Association of Embroiderers Korça
Human Rights House in Albania/ CRCA Albania
Together for LGBT Rights
Tirana Legal Aid Society, TLAS
Union Amaro-Drom
To:
Mr. Ilir Meta – Speaker of the Parliament
Mr. Erion Braçe – Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for Economy and Finances
Mr. Fatmir Xhafaj – Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for Legal Issues, Public Administration and Human Rights
Mrs. Albana Vokshi – Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Commission for Labour, Social Affairs and Health
Mrs. Vasilika Hysi – Chairwoman of the sub-Parliamentary Commission for Human Rights
Mrs. Olta Xhaçka – Chairwoman of the sub-Parliamentary Commission on Juveniles, Gender Equality and Domestic Violence issues
Mr. Gramoz Ruçi – Head of the Parliamentary Group of Socialist Party
Mr. Edi Paloka – Head of the Parliamentary Group of Demoratic Party
Mr. Petrit Vasili – Head of the Parliamentary Group of Socialist Movement for Integration
Mr. Fatmir Mediu – Head of the Parliamentary Group of Republican Party
Mr. Shpëtim Idrizi – Head of the Parliamentary Group of Party for Justice, Integrity and Unity