The Audit Agency of Assistance Programs, accredited by the European Union

Official Bulletin no. 185, dated October 5, 2016

The Albanian Parliament with the approval of Law No. 90, dated 15.09.2016 ”On the organization and functioning of the Audit Agency of Assistance Programs, accredited by the European Union, in the Republic of Albania ” decides to establish and defines the organization and functioning, the duties and powers of the Audit Agency of Assistance Programs from the European Union to the Republic of Albania.

To start with, the law decides that its main objective and duty will be to audit management and control systems regarding actions, transactions and annual accounts of financial support from the European Union, for funds before and after accession. The law specifically states the financial and functioning independence of the Agency, as an audit authority of IPA whose main scope is aid coordination during the pre-accession phase, under a single frame, and the union of candidate states and potential candidates for accession (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro) under a single regulation.

These audits cover the areas of compliance, lawfulness and regularity, financial management of assistance funds by the EU and efficient use of these funds. The law determines that all general government and local government units, private individuals and legal persons and NGOs that receive funding by IPA, or that are required to perform activities derived by IPA funding will be subjected to these audits.

The second chapter defines the status of the Agency along with its functions, budget, powers, organizational and management structure including the appointment criteria and conditions of incompatibility of appointees in Agency bodies.

Chapter three defines the types of audits and describes the rights and obligations of the Agency.

Regulation for handling complaints lodged to the State Inspectorate of Market Supervision

Official Bulletin no. 188, dated October 10, 2016

The Minister of Economic Development, Tourism, Trade and Entrepreneurship with order nr.7478, dated 16.09.2016 adopted a regulation (dated 16.9.2016 ”For the handling of complaints lodged to the State Inspectorate of Market Surveillance ”), which aims to define the rules and procedures in reviewing complaints against them and the sanctioning of subjects operating in the market of non-food products and / or those who exercise tourism business activities (natural persons / legal, domestic / foreign) as well as guaranteeing the rights of the parties, which are included in the appeal process near the State Inspectorate of Market Surveillance.

According to this regulation an Assessment Appeals Commission must be established, under the State Inspectorate of Market Surveillance , to guarantee due process of law as a body which has two main functions: 1. Review of behavior contrary to the law and the bylaws of the above behaviors on the basis of reliable information ; 2. Review of complaints filed by stakeholders who got damaged by failure to meet legal provisions or the quality of service and trade standards and / or legal conditions directed towards the subjects mentioned above.

The regulation proceeds with the clarification of the steps that must be followed according to procedure.