How will concessions be selected and monitored? Work on the new VKM begins, financial conditions for companies are "tightened".

The occasional accusations against the government regarding the misuse of public assets through concessions, translated into truncated and often penalizing services for Albanian citizens, have encouraged the government to focus more in this direction by tightening the rules of selection and monitoring . In the draft strategy of economic reforms 2023-2025, it is stated that in order to strengthen the capacities of the government for the evaluation of public investment projects, work has begun on the drafting of a new VKM which is expected to be finalized in the first half of this year and intends to include the PPP financing option as a separate section in the submission phase of the Project Proposal Form, as well as in the feasibility study; the inclusion of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment as part of the submission phase of the Project Proposal Form, as well as in the feasibility study; strengthening the procedures for not allowing the fragmentation of projects; as well as the obligation of funds, not only in the first year as in the Organic Budget Law (LOB) 20%, but at least for the second and third year, the amount of at least 30%. Likewise, the changes will define the regulatory and methodological framework for the preparation, approval, updating, monitoring and implementation of the Public Investment Management (PIM) procedures and the Unique List of Projects of National Importance procedures. Among the activities planned throughout this year, emphasis is placed on completing the complete database of monitored contracts, following the process of monitoring concession/PPP contracts. While throughout the year 2024-2025, the focus will be on Strengthening/developing capacities in government institutions for monitoring concession contracts/PPP; Consolidation and improvement of the evaluation methodology of new concession/PPP projects; Strengthening the roles of contracting authorities in determining the procedures that are chosen for public contracts, to assess which procedures maximize "best value for money" and "value for people". Consolidation and improvement of the evaluation methodology of new concession/PPP projects; Strengthening the roles of contracting authorities in determining the procedures that are chosen for public contracts, to assess which procedures maximize "best value for money" and "value for people". Consolidation and improvement of the evaluation methodology of new concession/PPP projects; Strengthening the roles of contracting authorities in determining the procedures that are chosen for public contracts, to assess which procedures maximize "best value for money" and "value for people".