Meta returns another concession

Meta returns another concession

President Ilir Meta just won't quit! After yesterday returning the concession for the Milot-Balldren Road for review, the Head of State today also returned the law on the projection, construction and maintenance of the Orikum-Dukat road.

According to the President, the lack of clear economical evaluation poses the risk of infringing upon state finances and public interest.

Moreover, President Meta stated that the contract was concluded via a non transparent process and violates the rule of law, adding that it wasn't approved by the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

In his arguments, the head of state determined that 'Law no. 51/2019, and the attached Concession Contracts, are proposed, drafted, signed and approved contrary to the rule of law'.

He added that 'this law has been formed in violation of the rules that govern this process, in breach of the principle of free competition and equality before the law, and in doing so has created a risk of infringing on the public interests.

The President notes that the contract concluded between the contracting authority and the economic operator was formalized through a non-transparent process and without concrete legal basis for the negotiation of its material conditions.

The President points out that lack of a clear economic assessment creates a risk for the state finances and public interest.

The President has noted that there does not appear to be a full and objective feasibility study designed and approved by the responsible state institutions charged with the law with this task.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy did not approve this project in accordance with the requirements of the act regulating this process;

Meta explained the law seriously endangers the state budget and the economy of Albanian households, as there is no accurate calculation of its effects on the country's economy.

The purpose of law approval of this contract is seemed to be only to cover the unlawfulness of the contracting authority and the Albanian government, in order not to evade responsibility in this process and to cover any contradictions with the law.

The President of the Republic finds it appropriate to point out that international financial institutions have explicitly demanded the Albanian government immediately eliminate the practice of accepting unsolicited bids, die to their heavy cost to the country's economy.

EMISIONET