Territorial reform: Krujë Municipal Council votes against transferring Rinas and “Mother Teresa” airport to Tirana administration

The Krujë Municipal Council has unanimously opposed the proposal to detach Rinas and the territory where the “Mother Teresa” International Airport is located from the Krujë Municipality and place them under the administration of the Tirana Municipality.

All 31 municipal councilors voted against the proposal of the Special Parliamentary Commission for Administrative-Territorial Reform, which foresees changing the administrative affiliation of Rinas.

Under the proposal, the area would be detached from the Nikël Administrative Unit, part of the Krujë Municipality, to join the Tirana Municipality.

In the arguments presented, the Krujë Municipal Council emphasizes that the proposed change should not be seen merely as an administrative reorganization, but as an intervention in the territory and borders of the Krujë Municipality and the Durrës County.

For this reason, the councilors demand that every decision be preceded by transparency and real consultation with the affected community, in accordance with the Constitution, the European Charter of Local Self-Government and the legislation in force.

According to the Council, Rinas represents not only the territory where the airport was built, but is an area where families live, where properties, agricultural land and businesses are located.

The Council argues that the residents of this area have historical, geographical and community ties with Nikël and the Krujë Municipality.

The Municipal Council clarifies that the opposition to the border change is not related to the development of Rinas or the “Mother Teresa” Airport.

On the contrary, according to it, the Krujë Municipality supports investments and projects that bring economic, infrastructural and social development to the area.

The councilors’ argument is that the development of Rinas and the airport is not necessarily conditioned by the change of territorial affiliation.

Another point raised by the Municipal Council is the economic impact of the airport on the local budget.

According to it, the Krujë Municipality currently benefits from around 10% of the revenues related to the airport’s activity, which translate into around 40 million lek.

These revenues are considered important for local government finances and for investments in the territory.

Instead of changing the borders, the Council demands the strengthening of the Krujë Municipality through infrastructure investments.

Among the listed priorities are the construction of the Krujë–Tirana road, the reconstruction of the Krujë–Fushë-Krujë axis, the construction of the Southern Ring Road of Fushë-Krujë, as well as solving the problems of entrances-exits connecting the Krujë Municipality with the Thumanë–Kashar axis.

The Municipal Council considers the issue to be of territorial, institutional and public interest character, demanding that before any final decision a transparent consultation process be held with the residents and community of Rinas.