Three civil society organizations, engaged in issues related to transparency, anti-corruption, good governance, and reporting on organized crime and corruption, namely:
- The Albanian Network for Reporting on Organized Crime and Corruption, with Executive Director Lindita Çela
- The Albanian Center for Economic Research (ACER), with Executive Director Mr. Zef Preçi
- The Albanian Institute of Science (AIS), promoter of Open Data Albania, with Executive Director Aranita Brahaj
have raised concerns regarding a lack of transparency in consultancy agreements made by the Council of Ministers during 2024. Specifically, the government has signed three paid consultancy agreements with three foreign business entities to advise on strategic sectors. These contracts were awarded without competition, under a special provision of the public procurement law.
The three civil society organizations have advocated for transparency regarding the identity of the contractors, publicly requesting information about the nationality and the commercial register in which these companies were established, as well as their beneficial ownership.
Download the Formal Request sent to the Prime Minister’s Office.
In Albania, the public has the legal right to be informed about both direct and indirect ownership of companies operating and registered for business activity within its territory. However, existing regulations remain insufficient.
The identification and transparency of contractors engaged through direct negotiations, without open competition, is currently not regulated by law.
Three institutions—the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Justice, and the Port Authority—have made the requested information available to us.
For more information, please refer to the company profiles (corporate passports) created based on the disclosed data:
• Guernica 37 Chambers Ltd – Corporate Passport
• Roual Haskoning DHV – Corporate Passport
- Decision No. 427, dated 26.06.2024
On the Authorization of the Durrës Port Authority to Directly Negotiate and Lawfully Conclude a Consultancy Agreement with an International Entity. - Decision No. 402, dated 19.06.2024
On the Authorization of the Minister of Justice to Directly Negotiate with the International Entity G37 Chambers for the Provision of Consultancy Services to Analyze and Assess Priority Recommendation Areas in the Fight Against Crime and to Develop a Methodology for the Evaluation and Continuous Monitoring of the Implementation of These Recommendations. - Decision No. 327, dated 29.05.2024
On the Authorization of the Minister of Justice and the Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption to Directly Negotiate with the International Entity Boston Consulting Group for the Provision of Consultancy Services to Identify Efficient Mechanisms to Further Promote the Fight Against Corruption and the Possibility of Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for This Purpose.
A legal amendment to the Law on Beneficial Ownership has also been proposed during the work of the Parliamentary Committee on Good Governance, Rule of Law, and Anti-Corruption Reforms (a committee established in July 2024).
Download the AIS Submission to the Special Parliamentary Committee on Good Governance, Rule of Law, and Anti-Corruption Reforms.
The committee has reviewed this proposal, and it is expected to be included in the final action plan.