Page 38 – Albanian Institute of Science

The Ambassador of Kingdom of the Netherlands in Albania visited AIS

03/11/2015/in Events /by admin

The Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands supports the Albanian Institute of Science in our ‘Money, Government & Politics’ project. This project intends to address issues of abuse, corruption and conflict of interest in the context of governance and politics in the country by sharing public data on expenditures of state institutions, electoral spending and the wealth of high state officials. On 8^th of October Ambassador Dewi van de Weerd visited the offices of the Albanian Institute where she had a discussion with Mrs. Aranita Brahaj and her team on the ongoing projects in publishing data on the online platforms (http://open.data.al/en and http://spending.data.al/en) in a standardized format, which makes it easier for citizens, journalists and civil society to analyze and compare the large datasets that are made available by the Albanian government. The comparison and analysis of such data increases transparency and accompanied by public discussion these projects can lead to meaningful change. Her Excellency strongly appreciated our projects and stated that the Embassy will continue to support great initiatives undertaken by AIS.

The three leading political parties PS, PD, LSI sued by AIS

29/10/2015/in Media Coverage @en /by admin

For the first time AIS has sued to the court the three main political parties in the country the Socialist Party, the Democratic Party, the Socialist Movement for Integration and the Commissioner of the Right of Information. Albanian Institute of Sciences urged parties’ the three public bodies to give information concern the finances of the electoral campaign of 2015, by not receiving any response to the official query. The Commissioner for the right of Information dismissed the claim by forcing the organization to address the issue at the Administrative Court.

AIS Executive Director stated for the media that the parties are subject of the right to information based on the paragraph 3, article 9 of the Constitution. Until now the court has held two sessions, in which were present only the representatives of the Socialist Party and the Commissioner for the right of Information.

Declaration of assets of Senior Officials at Open Spending Albania

14/10/2015/in Events /by admin

In the framework of Money, Government and Politics program, updated data are released in Spending Data Albania portal, “Money and power” column, about declared assets of Members and Ex-members of the Council of Ministers as well as their relatives’ assets. The data are published in compliance with access to information, transparency and accountability principles and after the model applied by the High Inspectorate for the Declaration of Assets.

Through these publications every journalist or citizen can be informed on the annual income of the prime minister, former prime minister and members or former members of the Cabinet.
A feedback on non-wage income such as income from rents, bargains, intellectual property, gifts, opening of inheritance acts etc. is also interesting.
Another interesting detail concerns their enrichment and expansion of assets via legalizations, privatization and transformation of agricultural land into land plots (with a growing value) at the time of their stay in office and through decisions made via bylaws.
In case of employment of the family members through declarations, we can provide information on labor relations in the public or private sector and in some cases investigative journalists can assess whether it is necessary to undertake an investigation on possible conflict of interest.
Especially interesting is the fact that how senior government leaders have chosen to invest in pension funds, privatization vouchers or stock markets.
Statements also contain information on their income abroad such as credits in foreign banks and real estate outside the country.
You can also find 2014 data for MPs, Members of the High Council of Justice HCJ and Supreme Court. This portal generally contains declarations of assets in various years for about 325 entities liable to declare their income and assets.

As we would like to thank you for your attention, we want to remind you on the eventual use of the data contained in our publications without any restriction. But on the other hand we would like that you always cite Spending Data Albania portal, Money and Power column, developed in the framework of our organization project AIS titled Money, Government and Politics.

Annual income and change of assets 2014, members and former members of the Council of Ministers

http://www.spending.data.al/sq/moneypower/list/pos_id/6

http://www.spending.data.al/sq/moneypower/list/pos_id/22

http://www.spending.data.al/sq/moneypower/list/pos_id/4

http://www.spending.data.al/sq/moneypower/list/pos_id/5

http://ais.al/new/

Information on Declaration of the Senior Judges assets

14/10/2015/in Events /by admin

In the framework of Money, Government and Politics program, updated data are released in Spending Data Albania portal, “Money and power” column, about assets declared by Senior Judges and members of the High Council of Justice HCJ as well as their relatives’ assets. The data are published in compliance with principles of access to information, transparency and accountability. Personal data are protected by filters applied according to the model provided by the High Inspectorate for the Declaration of Assets.

Through these publications every journalist or citizen can be informed on the annual income of the Judges of the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court and Members of the High Council of Justice.
Income from double employment in the private sector (mainly nonpublic universities) or in the nonprofit sector (entities registered as foundations or organizations) is considered as an interesting detail. Journalists as well as citizens are invited to analyze whether such non-public entities or their heads, who are at the same time employers of senior judges are parties to proceedings scrutinized in these courts.
The model applied for open data journalism concerning the assessment of conflict of interest, is also applied for interest based relations with private companies, which have been mentioned in the statements of the judges due to contracts of sale, lease, enterprise or exchange of real estate with a judge or family persons under the declaration.
An interesting information is also that on non-wage income such as incomes from rents, bargains, intellectual property, gifts, opening of an inheritance act etc.
In case of employment of family members through declarations, you may get an information on labor relations in the justice system something that will enable you to assess if it is necessary to control conflicts of interest and professional impartiality.
The statements contain also information on loans and borrowings.
You can also find 2014 data for MPs, Members of the Council of Ministers or other constitutional and independent institutions. This portal generally contains declarations of assets in various years for about 325 entities liable to declare their income and assets.

You can find other open and transparent data on Treasury Transactions, Concessionaire Register, Tax Calculator (on salary) and the Budget. As we would like to thank you for your attention, we want to remind you on the eventual use of the data contained in our publications without any restriction. But on the other hand we would like that you always cite Spending Data Albania portal, Money and Power column, developed in the framework of our organization project AIS titled Money, Government and Politics.

Workshop with Journalists: Open Spending Initiative

12/10/2015/in Events, Homeposts /by admin

Our organization AIS on 10th of October, 2015 at 10.30 am held a workshop with journalists involved in the Open Spending Initiative. Open Spending Initiative consist in creating a Network of affirmed local journalists, engaged in informing the public on expenditures of budgetary institutions in Albania.

The workshop presented instruments and well-structured data which increase the level of information and citizens monitoring of finances and public assets. Open and linked data create a space for controlling and minimizing the cases of abuse, conflict of interest and nepotism. The event was organized in the framework of Money, Government and Politics.

Program :

10:30 – 11:00

Aranita Brahaj

Executive Director (AIS)

Data on Open Corporates Albania, Control of Conflict of Interest

11.00 – 11.25

Leonard BAKIPLLARI

Investigative Journalist MAPO and Albanian Association of the Journalist for Justice (SHGD)

Declaration of Assets of High Level officials, Investigation of Wealth Sources

11:25 – 11:45

Shefiko HAJNA

Open Spending Albania

Treasury Monitoring, Citizens control over Public Spending

11:45 – 12:05

Blerta TUCI, AIS

Employers Taxation, Tax Calculator (Daily Bread) as an instrument that provide citizens with public services

12:10 – 12:30

Besjana HYSA, AIS

Linked Data on Public Spending and Declaration of Assets of Senior officials

12: 35- 12: 55

Questions and Discussions

Indicators about the participants:

Journalist engaged in Tirana and Local Media: 14 /11

Gender Ratio: Men: 11, Women: 14

Years of experience in the media: 7+ years: 17, 5-7 years: 4, 3-5 years: 3, 0-3 years: 1

Participants in the workshop: 25

Total registered: 30

List of registered journalists:

Nr.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

Emer Mbiemer
Adi DARSI
Adriatik DOCI
Albana QIRJAKO
Armida SHUKULLI
Aurora MURA
Aurora SULCE
Bashkim SHALA
Bepin KOLVATAJ
Besjana BEGAJ
Bledar KORRESHI
Brikela QELEMENI
Ebrieta MACAJ
Elvis NABOLLI
Englantina IMERAJ
Eni FERHATI
Enio CIVICI
Erjola AZIZOLLI
Fatbardha NERGJON
Gjyste DEDA
Juljan SHOTA
Keti BANUSHI
Ornela ROBAJ
Raimond KOLA
Renaldo XHANEJ
Skerdilajd MURATI
Sokol ÇOBO
Suela TOPI
Violeta SHQALSI-CARA
Vjollca KONGJONI
Xhevahir ZHABINA

Media
Free
Gazeta SOT
RTV SCAN
Un-employed
“Zeri i Popullit”
TV Ora News
BIRN-Albania &Koha Ditore-Kosove
TV1 Channel
TV-FOKUS
Top Media
RTV “Korça”
RTV REAl Vlorë
TV Rozafa
TV.Fokus
Top-News
RTV SCAN
Ora News
Report TV, Gazeta Shqip
M+
A1 report
VIZION +
TV Fokus
VOA
Un-employed
Panorama Sport
Gazeta “Shqip”
Gazeta “Shekulli”
TV SCAN
News 24
TV Klan

AIS in Court against the three main parties: Transparency on Electoral Donors

01/10/2015/in Events, Press Releases /by admin

The preliminary court session between AIS and the three main political parties will be held on 5th of October 2015 at the Administrative Court of Tirana. AIS has indicted the Socialist Party (PS), the Democratic Party (DP) and the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) to the right of information on their electoral financing.

The main issues to be reviewed are: the AIS complaint and the legal interpretation of whether the public has the right to know in real time who is funding the electoral campaigns of the major parties in the country.

Political Parties request to information: http://ais.al/new/en/political-parties-and-access-to-information-on-electoral-financing-ais-complaint/

Lawsuit act

Court Call document

AIS participant at the Telecenter Europe Conference

29/09/2015/in Events, Press Releases /by admin

Albanian Institute of Science as a member of Telecenter Europe Network participated at the annul Conference held in Beograd between 24-25 of September. Issues of employment in the ICT sector at the european market and the capacity building over different target groups were the main focus of the conference. Moreover the conference served to present the online program I-LINC a program that provides online traning for capacity building in the europenan market. The platform targeted mainly young people from East-Europe. The second day of the conference focused more on the e-Participation and the implementation of e-UROPA program, on which Albania is a beneficiary.

Jora Risto announced as e-Participation Ambassador for Albania

29/09/2015/in Events, Homeposts /by admin

e- Participation awards on 8th of December at the European Parliament in Brussels

Albanian Institute of Science as a member of the Telecenter Europe Network within the e-UROPA project during May–September 2015 organized the online competition “My e-participation Story”. The competition aimed the collection of the most significant stories related to the use of e-participation solutions that raised awareness among the young generation on a social problematic. Twelve winners were announced simultaneously in twelve countries. Awards will be given on 8th of December 2015 at the European Parliament in Brussels. The best compelled story from Albania is submitted by Jora Risto student at the Faculty of Medicine in Tirana. The story is titled “The Albanian November Students” and refers to the civic engagement and protest against the dismantling of Syrian chemical weapons in Albania. There were six stories submitted at the national level that dealt with migration and free movement issues. Furthermore, the winner was evaluated during the annual conference of Telecenter Europe which took place on 24-25th of September. The awarded story will be published in a brochure together with 11 stories from the other European participant countries at the website of Europa Participation. This competition was realized as part of the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union.

Read the story here: Albanian November Students

Video:

Pictures from the protest:

Money, Government and Politics, program was presented at TransparencyCamp 2015

22/09/2015/in Homeposts /by admin

September 11-12, Washington DC

Even this year our organization AIS was part of TransparencyCamp 2015 an “unconference” for OpenGov, organized by Sunlight Foundation. Each year the event gather hundreds of people to share their knowledge on the way of using new technologies and policies in making governments more accountable towards their citizens

AIS representative Besjana HYSA engaged in the process by presenting our most prominent program in matters of transparency and accountability Money, Government and Politics. She introduced the attendees with the results and impact of the program, the innovative datasets implemented and the cases of conflict of interest revealed.

Money, Government & Politics

19/09/2015/in Homeposts /by Besi Hysa

Money, Government and Politics project and its activities address issues of abuse, corruption, and conflict of interest in the context of governance and politics in Albania. The program aims at opening data about the wealth of high state officials, expenditures of state institutions, electoral spending and expenditures of the concessionary corporate. Comparison and analysis of such data increases transparency, accountability and public pressure in cases of favoritism, embezzlement of public funds or assets.