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The Supreme Audit Office sinks the government, here's how public beaches have been occupied...
The Supreme State Audit Office has documented how the Ministry of Tourism, local government, and other responsible bodies have favored the private sector regarding public spaces.
As soon as summer arrives, the beaches are occupied by sun loungers and umbrellas, while private beaches have disappeared. The Albanian Supreme Audit Office has uncovered the authorities' maneuvers, favoring the private sector.
" The division of the beach area permitted as private/public beach, for the period 2023-2024, is done proportionally, according to the ratio 70%/30% and perpendicular to the coastline. The area of each beach (public or private) is bordered by the coastline. The ratio of 70% private and 30% public does not guarantee authenticity on the ground, as it does not apply to every beach area but to a general territory. Consequently, the beach area that should be dedicated to the public free of charge has not been treated with priority. From field observations it results that the area reserved for the public is often not suitable and accessible to citizens. Their location is often near sewage discharges, in dirty territory, or distant from historical beach areas. "In some cases, public spaces are occupied by residents of the area with sun loungers and stationary umbrellas closed with chains and locks, which have caused a violation of the right to use these spaces by other casual vacationers, as in the case along the Durrës and Kavajë coastline ," the report states.
On the one hand, public spaces amount to 30%, in some cases in areas that are not at all suitable, but on the other hand, during the audited period, there has been an increase in the area contracted by private entities.
As can be seen, the area contracted by private entities to operate beach resorts for the period 2022-2024 presents a high growth trend.
Comparing the area in 2024 versus 2022 results in high increases:
- in the Municipality of Lezha from 20,969 m2 to 74,106 m2 or increased by 253%
- in the Municipality of Shkodra from 19,439 m2 to 64,274 m2 or increased by 231%
- in the Municipality of Himara from 28,387 m2 to 84,401 m2 or increased by 197%
continuing with the Municipality of Vlora where the increase is 158%, the Municipality of Saranda at 143% and the Municipality of Durrës has an increase in the contracted area at the lowest rate of 45%.
In total, for the 6 municipalities during 2022, an area of 239,221 m2 was contracted, which in 2024 increases to 554,738 m2 or in percentage terms to the extent of 132%.
In conclusion, in 2024 compared to 2022, in total for all municipalities subject to audit, there is an increasing trend in the number of beneficiary entities, the number of sun loungers and total contracted areas for the municipalities of Shkodër, Lezhë, Durrës, Vlorë, Saranda and Himara.
" The data on income for each municipality from the reports of the National Coastal Agency do not match the data reported by the municipalities themselves. The National Coastal Agency and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment do not have data from the General Directorate of Taxes on the activity of private entities to which public spaces on beaches are given for use as beach resorts. The lack of data related to the income generated, the activity of private entities that benefit from public spaces on beaches, etc. undermines the effective management of beaches and can lead to wrong decision-making ", emphasizes the SAI. /Pamphlet
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