National Strategy of water supply and sewerage 2011-2017

The Vision Statement that was developed for this Sector Strategy for the period 2011-1017 reflects where Albania is today in ramping up the overall investments in the water supply and sewerage sector, such that at the end of this planning period, there will be a marked difference in both the level and quality of services in the sector, as perceived by the end user. The Vision Statement for this Sector Strategy is as follows: VISION STATEMENT Develop proper policies and commit sufficient resources to improve the provision of water supply and sewerage services, and to consistently move toward compliance with EU standards and the Millennium Development Goal of environmental sustainability. As stated in the Introduction to this Strategy, the Government of Albania honors it commitment, as a co-sponsor of the United Nations resolution making the “Access to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation as a Human Right” to ensure equality for all of its citizens when it comes to human rights in terms of drinking water and sanitation. The Government of Albania is realistic in its aspirations as to when it can ultimately meet EU standards for the sector, and therefore acknowledges, by this statement that it will not be achievable within this seven year planning period. However, the Government of Albania still sees such compliance with EU standards as the goal, and will direct all of the resources, committed this sector, toward working to achieve that goal. The Mission Objectives for this Sector Strategy serves to focus the Governments initiatives on five key Mission Objectives that need to be addressed, both in policy and in action, to bring about the desired improvement of water supply and sewerage services. The Mission Objectives for this Section Strategy are as follows: Mission Objectives • Expand and improve the quality of water supply and sewerage services. Orientation of water services towards the principles of total control and recovery of costs. • Improve governance and regulation in the sector. • Invest in enhancing the capacities of the sector work force. • Move toward convergence of Albanian law with EU Water Directives.