Minister Karakaçi Says New Construction Safety Draft Law Aligns with EU Standards

During an interpellation in Parliament, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi stated that the Albanian government is working to strengthen the legal framework and control mechanisms to guarantee quality and safety in construction, in line with European Union standards.
In cooperation with the relevant institutions, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has drafted a new law on the marketing of construction products. This law aims to align with the 2024 European Union regulation and establish a modern system for assessing, verifying, and declaring the performance of construction products. The draft law also provides for the creation of entities responsible for certification, technical evaluation, and market surveillance to increase safety and ensure the quality of construction materials.
Karakaçi emphasized that technological developments, the growing complexity of construction projects, and issues identified in practice have driven the need to update the legislation, making the further strengthening of control mechanisms and institutional coordination essential.
Regarding the current legal framework, the minister stated that it is based on the 2004 Construction Products Law, which defines the criteria that construction materials must meet. These criteria include mechanical resistance, fire safety, hygiene, environmental protection, safety in use, acoustic insulation, and energy efficiency. Construction materials may only be placed on the market if they comply with Albanian standards harmonized with European standards or if they undergo conformity procedures. The manufacturer is responsible for declaring and verifying conformity, while the National Inspectorate for Territorial Protection carries out market surveillance.
In addressing the control and regulation of construction work, the minister emphasized that the legislation clearly defines the responsibilities of designers, contractors, supervisors, and inspectors in ensuring construction quality. According to him, imported materials must be accompanied by quality certificates issued by accredited laboratories, while domestically produced materials are certified by licensed institutions.
In conclusion, Minister Karakaçi stressed that the goal of strengthening the legal framework, increasing control mechanisms, and aligning with European Union standards is to guarantee safer, higher-quality construction in line with the public interest.