Parliament restructures with more permanent committees

TIRANA, Aug 27 (TemA) – Albania’s new legislature plans to add three permanent committees, reshaping the internal structure of parliament. The move is part of a reform package prepared by a group led by Socialist MP Eduard Shalsi.

The existing Committee on Productive Activities will be broken up. In its place: a Committee on Energy, a Committee on Infrastructure, Environment and Digitalization, and a Committee on Agriculture. A special body on governance and anti-corruption, chaired by Fatmir Xhafaj, will also become permanent and include opposition members.

In total, parliament would operate with 11 standing committees. Seven will be controlled by the ruling majority, four by the opposition. It is not yet clear which of the new panels will go to the opposition.

The changes follow meetings between Prime Minister Edi Rama, Speaker Elisa Spiropali, Socialist group leader Niko Peleshi and Minister for Parliamentary Relations Taulant Balla. The ruling bloc sees the restructuring as a way to sharpen oversight and align with EU accession goals.