Statement by the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku following cabinet meeting:

I stand before you today to announce several amendments adopted during the cabinet meeting to the Council of Ministers’ decision No 633, dated 26.10.2018 “On the measures against air pollution from the emissions of car engines and the reduction of air emissions of gaseous and solid pollutants from positive-ignition engines and compression-ignition engines fueled with natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehicles.”

Requests for the changes have been initially filed by the citizens via the co-governance platform shqiperiaqeduam.al.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy hosted a public hearing with representatives of interest groups.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy experts have carefully reviewed all interest groups’ claims, taking into account the primary interest in protecting the environment from gas emissions in the air.

The existing best European practices have been also explored in order to find the most optimal solution possible, which would provide the necessary environmental protection conditions on one hand and would not undermine the economic activity in this area, on the other.

The today’s changes to the Council of Ministers’ decision No 633 adopted at the cabinet meeting consist of:

1.Postponement of the deadline for this decision-making to enter into force. The previous deadline 28 February 2019 as set by the Council of Ministers’ No 633 is postponed until 31 December 2019.

2.Customs clearance of vehicles that have entered into Albania after the entry into force of Council of Ministers’ decision 633. The today’s change provides for the customs clearance of all vehicles that have entered the territory of Albania until 31 December 2018.

3.Standardization according to measurement parameters for gaseous emissions with EU standards. Used vehicles to enter the territory of the Republic of Albania must meet the Euro 4 technical conditions, while vehicles with mileage 0 must meet the Euro 5 and Euro 6 emission standards.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy praises the consistent and serious work done by the Ministry of Tourism and the Environment, as well as the very good cooperation we have had in addressing all issues that require institutional coordination.

Thank you!