TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
AIS Newsletter July 2025
Parliament: AIS participated in the public consultation on the draft law aimed at preventing Conflict of Interest Concern over delays and lack of quorum at the Public Procurement Commission: Risk to the integrity of high-value tenders Open Corporates Albania, with over 1 million unique users per year, brings transparency to Albanian businesses Beneficial Ownership
Parliament: AIS participated in the public consultation on the draft law aimed at preventing Conflict of Interest
The AIS organization, promoter of Open Data Albania, participated in the Public Consultation on the Draft Law “On Preventing Conflict of Interest in the Exercise of Public Functions.” This consultation roundtable was held at the Parliament of Albania as part of the activities of the Special Commission for Deepening Reforms on Good Governance, Anti-Corruption, and the Rule of Law. Apart from deputies, the consultation gathered representatives from public institutions, civil society, academia, as well as international organizations. AIS proposed that the law should provide for the establishment of a mandatory Registry of all Public Officials, along with their respective declarations. Another proposal was that senior officials exercising functions in supreme institutions should be obliged to disclose in detail their second citizenship as well as their tax residency in other countries. Furthermore, AIS recommended that the law should obligatorily require Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) to make full declarations regarding beneficial ownership in business entities, without being limited by the existing threshold of 25%.
Concern over delays and lack of quorum at the Public Procurement Commission: Risk to the integrity of high-value tenders
The non-governmental organizations AIS and ACER express concern about the situation at the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), the highest state body in the field of public procurement. The lack of quorum for decision-making and the suspension of the Chairman, who is indicted for “Unequal Treatment in Public Tenders,” have hindered the effective functioning of the PPC. This has caused delays in reviewing complaints, especially for tenders above the high-value threshold, which require a quorum of 5 members. According to data from Open Procurement Albania, there are currently over 30 complaints in 5 monitored sectors. The situation endangers the principles of free competition and transparency in procurement. AIS and ACER call on the Government and the new Parliament to urgently intervene to restore the normal functioning of the institution, ensuring the right to appeal and the integrity of public tenders.
Open Corporates Albania, with over 1 million unique users per year, brings transparency to Albanian businesses Beneficial Ownership
The Open Corporates Albania database, a business registry created and owned by the AIS organization, has reached over 1 million unique users per year (according to Google Analytics data). This is a high number for a database operating in a country with only 2.4 million inhabitants and providing serious information, without sensational news or daily announcements. Open Corporates Albania is a registry featuring a dashboard for companies operating in Albania, showing detailed cooperation with state institutions. The businesses in this registry include beneficiaries of public procurements, state budget transactions, public-private partnerships, businesses with public licenses, and participants in sectoral development programs. Each company dashboard contains information, documents, and visualizations related to ownership, management, financial performance, lists of licenses, and public tenders. This database is used by journalists, activists, public audit institution employees, and criminal investigation officers related to the use of public funds and contracts. Ultimately, the database also provides value for the businesses themselves and other users of corporate information in Albania.
Albanian Institute of Science
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