The scandal of the export of hazardous metallurgical waste from the Port of Durrës is the strongest blow with long-term consequences that the Albanian tourism sector has received so far. With this comment, Konfindustria adds that the Ministry of Environment should be a separate department, separated from tourism.

Sticking to the waste argument, Konfindustria notes that there is a complete lack of opposition for the granting and control of waste transport licensing, which comes from the same ministerial portfolio with a clear conflict of interest.

“We express our deep concern for the complete collapse of the entire institutional chain and agencies of licensing, control, environmental and customs inspection with a clear display of state corruption,” the statement reads.

The case of the recent scandal of the export of hazardous industrial waste from the Port of Durrës to third countries shows the objective impossibility of state institutions’ control over waste imports into the country.

Confindustria asks the institutions of the executive, the Assembly of Albania and the judiciary, including Special Prosecutor’s Office SPAK, to bear the responsibilities that have created the conditions for the latest international industrial waste scandal, using the Albanian territory and seriously harming national interests.