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Debate on waste import law in Albania ongoing, opposition seeks referendum

Xinhua, September 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

At a time when Albania is engulfed by debates over the controversial law on waste import adopted by the parliament last Thursday, opposition chairman Lulzim Basha declared Monday the opposition wants to hold a referendum on this issue.

Albanian opposition will call on president of the Republic not to sign the draft into law and "we will also call on the Parliament to pass a bill on holding a referendum on the draft law that allows waste imports," the Albanian opposition leader told a press conference.

He added that such demand requires the signatures of 28 lawmakers, while he stressed that the Albanian opposition in alliance with Albanian citizens will do whatever it takes to put an end to this issue.

But, he also acknowledged that the Democratic Party he chairs made a mistake with the waste law it drafted in 2013.

Earlier, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama had a meeting with recycling industry representatives during which he defended the law on integrated waste management highlighting that this law puts Albania in line with the EU regulation 1013, on management of green-listed waste.

According to him, the new law will have a positive impact on environment and economy while he added that recycling industry is expected to increase the gross domestic production by 1 percent, or 150 million euros (about 170 million U.S. dollars).

On the other hand, the civil society in Albania held protests Monday. They warned of escalating protests, strongly objecting the so-called waste law. Endit