The proposed amendments to the Law on Mineral Resources endanger national natural resources

CSOs, higher education institutions and experts oppose the amendments to the Law on Mineral Resources that the Government proposes to be adopted at the parliamentary session scheduled for January 18, 2021 by summary procedure, without prior public debate and public involvement and in a non-transparent procedure. They react that the proposed legal changes contain major omissions in terms of protection and sustainable use of mineral resources as the most important natural resources of the state.

33 non-governmental organizations, citizens’ associations and higher education institutions from the Civic Alliance for Advocacy and Lobbying “Разбистри сè” sent a letter to the President of the Assembly Talat Xhaferi, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bitiqi, Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi and Minister of  environment and spatial planning Naser Nuredini, to withdraw the Law proposal and return it to regular procedure.

They demand that the expert public and all interested citizens be involved in the process of adopting the law and be allowed to make proposals for improvements to the legal text by publicly announcing the legal changes to the government ENER system, two readings in the RSM Parliament and holding a parliamentary public hearing and public consultation hearing. The requirements of the Alliance for Advocacy and Lobbying  can be downloaded HERE.