Home > 5.1.3 Referendum requested by part of the electorate > ALBANIA - Joint Opinion on the Draft Law on the Legislative Initiative of the Citizens
 
 
 
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Paragraph 51
 

Providing for precise time-limits for the collection of signatures, as well as for the other stages of the process, is in line with international standards. However, it has to be kept in mind that the public initiative is intended to lead to a speedy adoption of new legislation, so the deadlines for deciding on the premises (as well as other different deadlines in the draft law) would prolong the process. Currently, from the formation of the representation/representative committee, the CEC has 30 days to decide on its registration. Then 20 days are left for the mayors to decide on the premises. After registration in the CEC, the initiators have to submit the notification to the parliament, which registers the notification within 48 hours. Then the CEC shall approve the model forms for signature collection sheets. After that, it is possible to start the collection of signatures only after 15 days, and it takes additional 60 days. When adding to that the time for verification, the total procedure might take more than four and a half months. The Venice Commission and ODIHR recommend reconsidering the duration of the whole process by simplifying it and reducing the time-limits applying to the action of public bodies, especially the 30 day time-limit for the decision-making by the CEC on the registration of the initiative group (committee), and of course the 20 day time-limit for mayors’ decision on the premises.