SEA profile

Updated to: 27 August 2013

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Establishing context

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Implementing SEA

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Informing decision making

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Follow-up

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SEA practice

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Background information

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History of SEA

SEA was introduced into legislation by the Law on Environmental Protection of 2002. The EIA Law of 2003 gave additional provisions on SEA. In 2005, Albania has ratified the Kiev Protocol on SEA.  Subsequently, it has issued two Laws on its ratification. Albania is now in the process of drafting a separate Law on SEA.

Legal framework

Enabling law

The Law on the Protection of Environment of 2002 introduced SEA into legislation. Furthermore, Article 5 of the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment, 2003 (No. 8990) makes some provisions on SEA. No detailed procedures are given though as the Article 5 mentions that procedures, deadlines and obligations in all phases of the SEA process shall be the same as for projects.

National detailed regulation

A Law on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is currently drafted. It aims to transpose the Directive 2001/42/EC on the Assessment of the Effects of Certain Plans and Programmes on the Environment.

Scope of application

SEA is required by the law on EIA (2003) for:

a) strategies and action plans on energy, mines, industry, transport, agriculture, forests, natural resources and mining properties management and waste management;

b) Territorial adjustment national and regional plans for urban and rural centers, industrial areas, coastal areas, tourism areas, protected areas and high pollution and damage sensitive areas.

Article 5 of law on EIA, 2003 no. 8990

SEA approach

The Law on Environmental Protection (2002) and the EIA Law (2003) indicate that an SEA approach is chosen that is strongly EIA-based. This means that the EIA procedure applies to programmes and policies also and that no separate SEA process is defined.

Institutional setting

Contact

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Regional Environmental Centre Albania: 
Mailing address: P.O.Box 127, Tirana, Albania
Visiting address: Rr. Ismail Qemali, No. 27, Third Floor, Tirana, Albania
Tirana, Albania
Tel/Fax: (355-4) 232-928
Mobile tel: (355-69) 203-8727
E-mail: rec@albania.rec.org, recalbania@hotmail.com
Web page: http://albania.rec.org , http://www.mjedisisot.info

Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration (MoEFWA):
Website: http://www.moe.gov.al/