The debate about the amalgamation of local government units stems from the fact that their political borders (the institutional territory) do no longer coincide with the functional territory required for an efficient provision of most local public services. And both do not correspond with the...

Section 1 proposes a description of the institutional situation in Albania. It explains the territorial decoupage of the "local" government tiers in relation to their political organs, where politics is still characterised by heavy tension and patronage. Section 2 concerns the legislation...