The Socialist Party has not reflected the Constitutional Court's decision in its proposals for amending the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly. In the draft made public, the SP confirms that the 11 permanent parliamentary committees remain in force, but with a reorganization of areas of responsibility.
We recall that on February 23, the Constitutional Court repealed the majority's unilateral changes to the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, which included maintaining in force the previous structure of committees, which totaled 8.
However, it seems that the Socialists will not implement this decision.
The SP's proposals also include strengthening the role of the Committee for Civic Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight, which will deal with petitions, post-legislative control and monitoring the implementation of Assembly decisions.
“4. The Committee responsible for Civic Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight coordinates and oversees the implementation of Strategies and Action Plans approved by the Assembly. At the end of each session, it presents to the Conference of Speakers an informative report on this process. The Speaker of the Assembly, if he deems it reasonable, decides to present it in a plenary session.”
So, despite criticism of the way in which worker-peasant control is being developed in the country's courts and prosecutors' offices and the rejection of SPAK, the socialists have considered further strengthening Fatmir Xhafaj's commission by now legally tasking it with monitoring the implementation of Assembly decisions.
Another point of the draft is the reduction of the speaking time of MPs from 10 to 5 minutes during discussions in the plenary session. The change affects several articles of the regulation and aims, according to the proposers, to increase the efficiency of the parliamentary debate.
Draft decision:
In the decision of the Assembly No. 166, dated 16.12.2004, “On the approval of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Republic of Albania”, as amended, the following changes and additions are made:
Article 1
After article a/7, article a/8 is added with the following content:
"Article a/8
Accelerated procedure for the review of draft laws aiming at approximation. The Assembly of the Republic of Albania shall immediately include in its program and calendar of works and shall review, through an accelerated procedure, draft laws aiming at the approximation of legislation, agreements related to the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and/or obligations arising from the accession negotiation process, with the exception of the laws provided for in Article 81, point 2, of the Constitution.
The following changes are made to Article 19:
1. Point 1 is amended as follows:
Article 2
"1. The Assembly approves in plenary session the establishment of 11 permanent committees with the following names and areas of responsibility:
– Committee on Economy, Employment and Finance.
(Economic policy issues with the approach to the European common market, the State Budget and supervision of its implementation, employment relations, freedom of movement of workers, public finances, privatizations and the banking system.)
– Committee on Legal Affairs and Public Administration.
(Codes and laws ensuring their compliance and enforceability with European standards; the organization of the judiciary and its reporting, the administration of the judiciary; public administration, independent institutions in the justice system.)
– Committee on Internal Affairs and Defense.
(Internal affairs, order, organization of national and public defense and security, organization of the Armed Forces and military cooperation; issues of organization and functioning of local government, civil emergencies and disaster protection,
secret services.)
– Committee on Education, Science and Sports.
(Issues in the field of education, scientific research, innovation and sports development policies.)
– Committee on Health and Social Welfare.
(Issues related to health policies, social security, family, women and social welfare issues.)
-Committee on Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development.
(Issues in the field of energy, natural resources and biodiversity, infrastructure, industry and telecommunications, territorial regulation, trade and environmental protection and
issues for sustainable development.)
– Commission on Human Rights and the Media.
(Issues in the field of fundamental human rights and freedoms, issues related to the activity of audiovisual and information media and issues for guaranteeing freedom of expression.)
– Committee on Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.
(Agriculture, livestock and fisheries issues, rural development issues, food safety control and assurance issues, monitoring the implementation of policies in the field of agriculture
and food safety.)
– Committee on Culture, Tourism and Diaspora.
(Issues of national culture and cultural heritage; development of sustainable tourism; policies for preserving the cultural and linguistic identity of the diaspora and
its participation in political and social processes in the country.)
– Committee for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
(European integration issues, approximation of legislation with the legislation of the European Union; supervision of the implementation of commitments arising from the Stabilization and Association Agreement, supervision of the European Union's financial assistance to Albania; monitoring of the accession negotiations with the European Union, foreign policies, international relations and cooperation, as well as the implementation of international agreements.)
– Committee on Civic Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight.
(Monitoring and supervising the implementation of strategies, resolutions, decisions and action plans of the Assembly; reviewing and following up on citizen initiatives and petitions; implementing and coordinating, supervising and controlling the implementation of laws by the executive branch, institutions and agencies independent of it, through coordinating the parliamentary process for post-legislative control (PLS); coordinating inter-institutional dialogue and cooperation.)
2. After point 3, point 4 is added with the following content:
"4. Everywhere in the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, the names of the standing committees are replaced according to the names of the standing committees in Article 19, point 1, of this decision.".
Article 3
In Article 20, point 3 is repealed.
Article 4
In Article 28, point 2, the last sentence “The draft law that aims to approximate Albanian legislation with European Union legislation shall not be reviewed through an accelerated procedure” is repealed.
Article 5
In Article 47, point 1/1, the phrase "no more than 10 minutes" is replaced with the phrase "no more than 5 minutes".
Article 6
In Article 48, point 1, the words “no more than 10 minutes” are replaced with the words “no more than 5 minutes”.
Article 7
In Article 102, the following amendment and addition is made:
1. Point 4 is amended as follows:
“4. The committee responsible for institutional oversight, within the framework of the function of parliamentary control over ministries and other public institutions, coordinates and monitors the implementation of the Post-Legislative Control process of laws adopted by the Assembly with regard to their implementation and effectiveness, cooperating with other permanent parliamentary committees within their respective areas of responsibility.”
2. After point 4, point 5 is added, with the following content:
“5. Within the framework of this process, the committees organize public hearings with members of the Council of Ministers, senior representatives of state or public institutions, experts, representatives of civil society, representatives of interest groups, as well as other interested groups.”
Article 8
Article 103 is amended as follows:
"Article 103
Reporting to the Assembly
1. The Conference of Speakers, upon the proposal of the President of the Assembly, decides at the beginning of each year on the calendar for presenting to the Assembly the reports of the constitutional bodies and those established by law.
2. The calendar contains the constitutional body and the one established by law that will report, the committees responsible for the review and the legal deadline for submitting the report to the Assembly. The Assembly officially requests the above institutions to submit the report to the Assembly within the legal deadline. In cases where the legal deadline for submitting the report is not specified in the organic law of the institution, the Conference sets the deadline for its submission.
The calendar for submitting reports is announced at the first plenary session, published and distributed to institutions.
If no agreement is reached on the calendar at the conference of presidents, the provisions of point 4 of article 27 of the regulation shall apply.
3. The report of the institutions, after submission, is immediately included in the work program of the Assembly and is reviewed by the committee responsible for the field.
4. The committee responsible for the field organizes a hearing to review the report and, at the end of the discussions, drafts a draft resolution evaluating the work of the institution, or includes specific recommendations in the committee's report, which it forwards to the committee responsible
for institutional oversight.
5. The Institutional Oversight Committee organizes a hearing in which the head of the institution reports on the implementation of the Assembly resolution for the previous year and the assessment of the draft resolution/recommendations presented by the committee responsible for the field for the following year.
6. The draft resolution adopted at the meeting of the committee responsible for institutional oversight is presented to the plenary session, while the report with specific recommendations is forwarded in writing to the relevant independent institution.
7. The committees, when they deem it necessary, depending on the issues addressed in the annual report or
that arise during its review, may request written information from other state institutions or independent institutions, as well as/or invite civil society organizations that interact and contribute to the areas covered by the independent institution
to a hearing .
8. In the draft resolution, the committees may reflect recommendations based on the facts collected by the bodies mentioned in point 7 of this article.
9. In the plenary session, the draft resolution on the evaluation of the institution's work is read and then discussions regarding it continue.
10. A standing committee, a parliamentary group leader or at least 10 members of parliament have the right to request in writing the holding of a debate. The time of the debate is determined by the Conference of Speakers and each member of parliament has the right to speak for no more than 5 minutes.
11. The Mechanism for Periodic and Annual Monitoring of Institutions is approved in plenary session. The Committee responsible for institutional oversight continuously monitors its implementation and, when deemed necessary, informs the Assembly about the issues that have arisen.”
Article 9
Në nenin 103/1 bëhet ndryshimi dhe shtesa si më poshtë:
1. Pika 6, ndryshohet si më poshtë:
“6. Komisionet e përhershme parlamentare sipas fushave përkatëse të përgjegjësisë, mund të thërrasin institucionet kushtetuese të pavarura dhe institucionet e krijuara me ligj, që raportojnë dhe informojnë Kuvendin, për të raportuar dhe për të dhënë informacione për çështje të integrimit evropian, duke u koordinuar paraprakisht me Komisionin për Çështjet Evropianë.”
2. Në fund të pikës 7, shtohet fjalia me këtë përmbajtje:
“Para miratimit kalendari koordinohet me Komisionin përgjegjës për Çështjet Evropianë.”
Neni 10
Në nenin 103/3 bëhen ndryshimet e mëposhtme:
1. Pika 3, ndryshohet si më poshtë:
“3. Pas miratimit të planit nga Konferenca e Kryetarëve, Kryetari i Kuvendit ia përcjell planin vjetor me afatet kohore të përcaktuara ministrit përgjegjës për Marrëdhëniet me Kuvendin dhe ministrive përgjegjëse.”
2. Në fjalinë e parë të pikës 4, togfjalëshi ” Komisionit për Evropën dhe Punët e Jashtme”
ndryshohet me fjalën ” Komisioneve”.
Neni 11
Në nenin 103/4 shtohet pika 4 me përmbajtje si më poshtë:
“4. Komisioni përgjegjës për Nismat qytetare, bashkëpunimin dhe mbikëqyrjen institucionale koordinon dhe mbikëqyr zbatimin e Strategjive dhe Planeve të Veprimit të miratuara nga Kuvendi. Në mbyllje të çdo sesioni ai i paraqet Konferencës së Kryetarëve një raport informues mbi këtë proces. Kryetari i Kuvendit nëse e çmon të arsyeshme vendos paraqitjen e tij në seancë plenare.”
Neni 104 ndryshohet si më poshtë:
Neni 12
“Neni 104
Nismat qytetare dhe peticionet
1. Nismat qytetare dhe peticionet, të cilat i drejtohen Kuvendit, shqyrtohen nga Komisioni përgjegjës për Nismat Qytetare, bashkëpunimin dhe mbikëqyrjen institucionale.
2. Pranohen për shqyrtim nismat dhe peticionet, të cilat janë bërë me shkrim, kanë emrin e dërguesit dhe nënshkrimet përkatëse, janë të kuptueshme dhe tregojnë qartë objektin e tyre.
3. Kërkesat me nisma qytetare dhe peticionet dërgohen nga Kryetari i Kuvendit në Komisionin përgjegjës për Nismat qytetare dhe peticionet. Kryetari i komisionit mund t’ia kthejë nismën ose peticionin dërguesve për rihartim ose t’u kërkojë atyre sqarime shtesë.
4. Jo më vonë se 45 ditë nga data e marrjes së peticionit, Kryetari i komisionit e paraqet kërkesën me nismën ose peticionin në komision, duke propozuar njëkohësisht edhe mënyrën e trajtimit dhe
zgjidhjes ligjore ose mospranimin e tyre. Në rast se komisioni e gjykon të arsyeshme për zgjidhjen
e çështjes, mund të autorizojë kryetarin e komisionit, për të paraqitur një deklaratë në seancën
plenare të Kuvendit. Hapat e ndërmarrë dhe zgjidhja e çështjes së ngritur i njoftohen dërguesve të
nismës ose peticionit.
5. Komisioni përgjegjës mund të vendosë dërgimin e nismës ose peticionit një komisioni tjetër
parlamentar që ka lidhje me objektin e paraqitur në peticion, Këshillit të Ministrave, institucioneve
publike dhe Institucioneve të pavarura përgjegjëse për fushën për veprime të mëtejshme, me qëllim
marrjen e informacioneve. Në përfundim, komisioni jep shpjegime me shkrim, propozon nismë
legjislative ose merr vendim.
6. Kuvendi miraton Mekanizmin e trajtimit dhe shqyrtimit të nismave qytetare dhe peticioneve”.
Neni 13
Në nenin 110, pika 4, fjalia e dytë, fjalët “në përputhje me nenin 48 të kësaj Rregulloreje”,
zëvendësohen me fjalët “në mënyrë përpjesëtimore ndërmjet grupeve, sipas përfaqësimit të tyre
në Kuvend, por në çdo rast jo më shumë se 10 minuta për çdo deputet.”
Neni 111ndryshohet si më poshtë:
Neni 14
“Neni 111
Zgjedhja në organet kushtetuese ose të krijuara me ligj me propozim të institucioneve të
tjera.
1. Për kandidaturat në organet kushtetuese ose të krijuara me ligj, të cilat zgjidhen nga Kuvendi,
me propozim të institucioneve të tjera, me përjashtim të rasteve kur nuk është parashikuar ndryshe
në Kushtetutë ose në ligj, zhvillohet procedura e përzgjedhjes si më poshtë:
a) Sekretari i Përgjithshëm tre muaj përpara përfundimit të mandatit ose menjëherë në rastet e
shkarkimit të anëtarit të organit kushtetues ose të krijuar me ligj njofton me shkrim institucionin
propozues, i cili fillon praktikat për zgjedhjen e anëtarit të ri.
b) Kandidaturat duhet të paraqiten në Kuvend 45 ditë përpara mbarimit të mandatit të anëtarit të
organit dhe jo më vonë se 10 ditë pas shkarkimit të tij.
c) Me paraqitjen e kandidaturave, Kryetari i Kuvendit ia kalon ato menjëherë komisionit
përgjegjës, i cili brenda tre javëve nga marrja e kërkesës organizon seanca dëgjimore publike me
secilin kandidat dhe vendos nëse kandidaturat i plotësojnë kriteret kushtetuese, ligjore dhe meritën.
ç) Në rastin kur ka mangësi në dokumentacion për kandidaturën, komisioni i kërkon zyrtarisht
institucionit propozues për plotësimin e tij. Në rastin kur kandidatura nuk plotëson kriteret ligjore
të përcaktuara në Kushtetutë ose në ligj, komisioni i kërkon Kryetarit të Kuvendit të njoftojë
institucionin propozues. Procedura e shqyrtimit në Kuvend vazhdon me paraqitjen e kandidaturës
së re nga institucioni propozues.
2. Kuvendi shqyrton propozimin dhe kryen votimin për kandidatët në seancë plenare brenda një
jave nga paraqitja e raportit të komisionit përkatës.
3. When none of the candidates obtains the required majority of votes, the Assembly shall notify the
proposing institution. The procedure shall begin with other candidacies from the beginning, according to the provisions set forth in this
article, except in cases where otherwise provided.
Article 15
After Article 111, Article 111/1 is added with the following content:
"Article 111/1
Election to constitutional bodies or bodies established by law upon the proposal of a group of
deputies.
1. For candidacies in constitutional bodies or bodies established by law, which are elected by the Assembly,
upon the proposal of a group of deputies, except in cases where
the Constitution or the law does not provide otherwise, the selection procedure shall be carried out as follows:
a) The responsible committee, three months before the end of the mandate of the member of the constitutional or legally established body, decides to announce and publish the vacancy on the official website of the Assembly. The deadline for submitting candidacies is 20 days from the publication of the decision.
b) At the end of the deadline specified in the announcement, the responsible committee shall notify the members of the Assembly of the list of self-nominated candidacies and, within 5 days of sending the list, shall organize an open public hearing in the premises of the Assembly, where all its members shall be notified to attend.
The list of self-nominated candidates is made public on the official website of the Assembly.
c) Within three weeks of the public hearing, at least 28 deputies select the candidate they will support to propose to the Assembly, based on professional qualities and performance during
the presentation.
ç) The support with the signatures of at least 28 deputies is officially deposited in the protocol of the Assembly. The Speaker of the Assembly immediately passes them on to the responsible committee, which, within three weeks of receiving the request, decides whether the candidacies meet the constitutional, legal and
merit criteria.
2. The Assembly shall review the proposal and vote on the candidates in plenary session within one week of the submission of the report of the relevant committee.
3. When none of the candidates receives the required majority of votes, the Assembly shall re-declare the vacancy, according to the provisions of this article, except as otherwise provided.
Article 16
In Article 115, point 1, is amended as follows:
“1. The request for the dismissal of members shall be submitted to the President of the Assembly in writing and in a motivated and concrete manner for the reasons provided for in the law, by no less than 28 deputies, except in cases where otherwise provided.”
