Journal on natural and built environment Published by GO2Albania No. 41, January 2026 Distributet for free
TROPOJË
MALËSI E MADHE
109m
HAS
FUSHË-ARRËZ
156m 158m
58m PUKË
25m
ALBANIA MAP OF DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY ZONES
345m
KUKËS
79m LEZHË
MIRDITË DIBËR
355m
KURBIN
137m
KRUJË
State border Municipal boundary Municipalities with approved DCM on development priority zone Development priority zone approved with DCM 83m Average elevation of development priority zone under 600m
BULQIZË
DURRËS VORË
KAMËZ
83m TIRANË
50m
100m
LIBRAZHD
KAVAJË RROGOZHINË PEQIN 245m
255m 175m
DIVJAKË
LUSHNJË FIER
PËRRENJAS
200m CËRRIK 150m 150m
MALLAKASTËR
SELENICË
PUSTEC MALIQ
POLIÇAN
KORÇË
DEVOLL
MEMALIAJ KËLCYRË
VLORË
POGRADEC
GRAMSH
KUÇOVË DIMAL ROSKOVEC BERAT PATOS
GJIROKASTËR LIBOHOVË
HIMARË
GJIROKASTËR
DELVINË SARANDË
DROPULL
FINIQ
KOLONJË
Priority development zones approved by special DCMs were digitized in QGIS based on official coordinate descriptions and georeferenced at national scale across all Albanian municipalities. The average elevation for each zone was calculated through spatial analysis using national elevation data and presented in this map, highlighting zones below 600 m above sea level, which are not considered mountainous.
KONISPOL
Map of development priority zones on the Mountain Package approved until December 31th, 2025. Prepared by: GO2, 2026
In this issue:
PAGE IV
PAGE II, VI
PAGE II, V
PAGE III, VIII
PAGE V
PAGE VII
Following the approval in the spring of 2025 of the so-called “Mountain Package”1, the government immediately began work on its implementation—not only ignoring opposing voices2, but particularly failing to inform mountain communities about the drafted and approved law, which was passed without any public hearings. The first instruction for the Package—which has now become part of the programme of the fourth consecutive government led by the Socialist Party3—was issued immediately after the law’s adoption, dated June 19th, 20254. A few days later, the government announced the launch of the platform www.paketaemaleve.gov. al, intended as a tool to inform and guide applicants through the process. After providing a summary of the government’s considerations regarding the Mountain Package in simplified terms5, the platform’s “Procedure” section outlines eleven steps for application: 1. Request from municipalities, 2. Proposal from the Ministry, 3. Proposal from the Ministry (duplicate step in original), 4. Field verification, 5. Municipal decision-making, 6. Approval by the Municipal Council, 7. Registration with State Cadastre Agency (SCA), 8. Right to a development permit, 9. Request to purchase property at a symbolic price, 10. Review and contract, 11. Construction permit6. The platform also contains a “Legislation” section, which includes the Law on the Mountain Package and the Instruction of the Minister of State for Local Government. The first applications were submitted in early July 2025. From time to time, announcements were made of a continuously increasing number of applications7, which exceeded 5,000 by the end of October 20258. On July 16th, the Prime Minister, who has reserved for himself the exclusive right to publish any news coming from any institution, however minor it may be, posted on his Facebook profile a map of applications, writing: “This is an inspiring map of Mountain Package applications, with 787 applicants in just 5 days”9 (see map on page VII). 1) “Ligj nr. 20/2025, datë 13.3.2025 Për paketën e maleve”, at “Fletoja Zyrtare” no. 69, April 18th, 2025 2) Arbjona Çibuku, “Paketa e Maleve, një tjetër ligj klientelist”, at “Citizens.al”, January 23rd, 2025 3) Edi Rama, “Programi i Partisë Socialiste Shqipëria 2030”, at “PS. al”, March 29th, 2025 4) “Udhëzim Nr. 1, datë 19.6.2025 Për përcaktimin e rregullave të hollësishme për dokumentacionin dhe procedurën e shpalljes së zonës prioritare të zhvillimit në territoret e bashkive”, at “Fletorja Zyrtare”, no. 109, dt. June 24th, 2025 5) https://www.paketaemaleve.gov.al/al/about 6) https://www.paketaemaleve.gov.al/al/procedura 7) Hamit Yzeiraj, “Paketa e Maleve, 3308 aplikime në E-albania Shkodra, qarku me interesin më të lartë. Durrësi, vetëm 96 aplikime”, at “Scan.tv”, August 8th, 2025 8) Sebi Alla, “Si paketa e maleve ‘mori’ edhe bregdetin e kodrinat, 5520 aplikime në gjithë vendin”, at “Faktoje.al”, November 7th, 2025 9) Edi Rama, Facebook post, July 16th, 2025 (https:// www.facebook.com/ediramaal/photos/%EF%B8%8F-kjo%C3%ABsht%C3%AB-nj%C3%AB-hart%C3%AB-frym%C3%ABzuesee-aplikimeve-p%C3%ABr-paket%C3%ABn-e-maleve-ku-n%C3%ABvet%C3%ABm-5/1292171272278531/) continued at pg. IV