Topçiu: The reform should not be seen as increasing or decreasing the number of municipalities

2026-05-20 19:23:00, Aktualitet CNA

Topçiu: The reform should not be seen as increasing or decreasing the

The Mayor of Maliq, Gëzim Topçiu, stated at the Territorial Reform Commission that the administrative-territorial reform should be evaluated based on the performance of municipalities, finances and the powers they exercise, and not only in terms of the expansion or reduction of territories.

He stated that the reform was necessary and that during this period an increase in local finances has been observed. According to him, the analysis of income and expenditure is essential to understand its effectiveness.

He also emphasized that the municipality has maintained basic services even in former communes, so that citizens are not forced to travel kilometers to receive public services.

According to him, investments have also increased, citing interventions in rural infrastructure.

Topçiu added that the reform should not be seen simply as a matter of expanding or reducing local units, but as a process related to the distribution of competencies and financial support.

He highlighted that some functions, such as rural road maintenance, forest and pasture management, as well as irrigation and drainage systems, still remain a challenge for municipalities due to the lack of full financial coverage.

"The reform had to be done. We need to see how each municipality has performed. There is an increase in local finances. If we don't see the revenues, the expenses, we have nothing to discuss about the reform. We have preserved the basic services related to the former municipalities so that citizens don't have to travel miles to get a service."

As for investments, their level has increased. In all units, we have completed 4-5 asphalt roads for each village that were not seen in the former municipalities.

I think that the reform should not be seen as an increase or decrease in municipalities, but as a competence and financial coverage and the competences that local government has. It is important that a function is covered financially.

We have some functions that we do not cover as we would like: rural roads, forests and pastures, irrigation and drainage, canals, etc.," said Topçiu./ CNA