Parliament approves changes to parliamentary committees/ Balla: Oversight of institutions increases

2025-09-29 11:29:00, Politikë CNA

Parliament approves changes to parliamentary committees/ Balla: Oversight of

The Albanian Parliament has approved important changes in the area of ??responsibility of parliamentary committees, following a model similar to that of the parliaments of European Union member states.

According to the new model, the Committee on Civic Initiatives and Institutional Oversight will have a more active role in the reporting and oversight process of independent institutions, through joint meetings with other committees, as provided for in Article 37 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly.

The leader of the Socialist group, Taulant Balla, stressed that Article 103, which regulates the annual reporting of independent institutions, does not operate in a vacuum, but is closely linked to other provisions of the Regulation. “The reporting of institutions over the years has left something to be desired and this has been consistently observed. Supervision should be more dynamic and not limited to annual reporting,” Balla said at the meeting of the Conference of Speakers.

In the context of the EU integration process, the Assembly aims to increase the effectiveness of its oversight function and the transparency of independent institutions. It has also requested the revision of Article 103, to reflect the institutional reality and the current needs of parliamentary monitoring.

In conclusion, Balla also underlined the need to review the role of the KKIE, in line with these new developments. There was also a call for clarification of the powers over the supervision of the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection and Information Media, an issue on which the Chairman of the Laws Committee is expected to provide an interpretation, following the suggestion made by the Chairman of the Democratic Party Parliamentary Group.

These changes are expected to contribute to improving the institutional functioning of the Assembly and strengthening control and accountability mechanisms, in line with European standards.

"The Assembly has approved the scope of responsibility of the committees.

The model followed is one that operates in many parliaments of EU member states. It is normal for the Committee on Citizens' Initiatives and Institutional Oversight to be involved in the reporting of independent institutions, in joint meetings.

The articles are interconnected. Article 103 is not in a vacuum, but is closely related to other provisions. We have Article 37 of the Regulation (joint meetings), which resolves the issue of holding these meetings.

In conclusion, there is no problem, since the Regulation has foreseen these situations. The reporting of independent institutions over the years has left much to be desired and this has been consistently observed. This reporting method should not be only once a year, but should be done periodically. At this stage where we are, in the EU integration process, the Albanian Parliament must rise to the required height, making the oversight process more functional. The time has come to review Article 103 of the Regulation.

"The KKIE should also be revised in light of these changes. Concluding my speech, I think that the proposals are good, with one clarification that should be clarified by the chairman of the Laws Committee, which is related to the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection and Information Media, according to the suggestion of the chairman of the DP Parliamentary Group", said Balla./ CNA