Academic Journal of Business, Administration, Law and Social Sciences

Publisher:: International Institute For Private Commercial And Competition Law (IIPCCL)
Publication date:: 2020-09-26

ISBN:: 2410-3918

Issue Number

No. 10-3, November 2024

Latest documents

Unearthing History: Underground Cities and Military Heritage in Albania and Europe
Bunkers in Albania are emblematic of the country’s tumultuous past. With approximately 170, 000 documented bunkers, each varying in spatial typology, geographical position, and structural features, these structures were built to shelter army troops and thwart foreign invasions (Kristo and Jojic, 2020). For nearly half a century, Albania’s isolation encapsulated its people within a heavily guarded geography, creating a “living prison” where free movement was restricted, even within the country until the fall of the dictatorial regime. Bunkers were strategically placed both in natural landscapes and urban centers, often forming elaborate ensembles of three or more, and extending to tunnels within hills and mountains. This research aims to explore the potential relationships between these bunkers and foreign visitors or tourists in various contexts of their locations. Different typologies of bunkers can be found at the seaside, in valleys, and on mountains, reflecting strategies based on proximity to borders with Montenegro, Kosovo, Greece, Northern Macedonia, Italy and the Adriatic Sea. These strategic areas hold significant interests and values, the positioning of bunkers as unique examples and opportunities for alternative tourism in Albania. The military heritage and bunkers scattered across Eastern Europe stand as silent witnesses to a complex history shaped by conflicts, ideologies, and geopolitical shifts (Stiller, Dhamo, Aliaj and Kristo, 2019). These structures are remnants of an era defined by intense geopolitical tensions and the ever- present threat of military conflict, particularly during the Cold War. They reflect the diverse strategies and responses of different nations to these challenges, offering unique insights into the historical and cultural fabric of the region.
Income concealment and its impact on the Economy
The revenues collected from taxes and levies constitute the largest part of the State budget. These revenues are significant as, without them, the State’s financial activities cannot be carried out, nor can the public needs of society be met. More revenue from taxes and levies means more schools, kindergartens, nurseries, hospitals, roads, and more services for the community, drafting effective social and criminal policies to protect individuals and society. For this purpose, it is important not only to determine the level of taxes and levies but also to protect their collection to ensure the necessary services for the benefit of society. One way to protect tax and levy collection is through criminal legislation. Among the criminal offenses provided for this purpose, Article 180 titled “Income Concealment”, which punishes all illegal behaviors that favor tax evasion, is of great importance. Through this paper, we aim to present the direct importance of revenue collection for the economic and social development of a country by initially identifying some of the ways in which the criminal act of income concealment is committed by commercial companies. This paper will also include a brief analysis of criminal legislation protecting tax revenues before moving on to the economic analysis of tax evasion and the difficulties encountered in combating this phenomenon.
Assessment of the anthropogenic impact on the quality of the surface waters of Lake Shkodra (Albanian Part)
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of Shkodra lake waters in terms of physical-chemical and microbiological parameters, knowing that many people frequent this water lake to bath in spring and summer. Lake Shkodra is the largest freshwater body on the Balkan Peninsula. It covers an area of about 370-600 km2 and is shared between Montenegro and Albania. Evaluation of Lake Shkodra was realized during the period October 2021-June 2022 for Albanian Part. The study was carried out in six stations of the Lake Shkodra based on the anthropogenic impact in some different points of Lake Shkodra. The physical-chemical parameters are: temperature, pH, turbidity and conductivity. The analyzed microbiological parameters are: heterotrophic bacteria, Intestinal Enterococci, Escherichia coli. The results showed that most physical-chemical and microbiological parameters are within the limited values allowed by the WHO and Directive 2006/7/EC for surface water with some exceptions in few points.
Repetition of judicial review before the court of appeal - Problems encountered in Albanian judicial practice
Article 13 of the ECHR provides that: “Every person whose rights and freedoms recognized by this Convention have been violated, has the right to lodge an effective appeal before a national institution even when this violation has been committed by persons acting within the exercise of their official functions”. The right to effective appeal is a fundamental human right and implies the right of the individual to appeal, the existence of a certain body for reviewing the appeal, unconditional acceptance of the appeal for review, reasonable deadlines for its review, an objective review, judicial control, as a final check on the appeal. The Court of Appeal judges as a court the fact and the law and as such it has the its own right but also at the request of the party to partially or fully repeat the judicial review. Article 427, paragraph 4 of the Criminal Procedure Code has been amended recently by the Law 35/2017, whereby it is provided that: “When the defendant is found not guilty, the court of appeal cannot find him guilty solely on the basis of a different assessment of the evidence obtained in the first instance trial”.
Environmentally sustainable economic growth in Albania
While Albania has experienced significant economic growth, it has also faced environmental degradation and social inequality. The article reviews important policies and strategies that Albania has implemented to achieve key transitions around energy, food and digital connectivity, underpinned by expanded access to social protection and decent jobs, and education and skills for the future, which are essential for rewiring the economy to combat another crisis and to reduce inequalities within Albania. Achieving these objectives requires not only strengthened institutions and policy frameworks but also improving key sectors like energy, agriculture, tourism, waste management, and urban development. These issues offer both opportunities and challenges for green growth.
Expertise act as evidence, accessibility and practical issues according to the Albanian legislation
One of the most important pieces of evidence provided by the Criminal Procedure Code (hereinafter: CPC), is evidence with an expert, which is taken in cases when the proceeding body for resolving a specific case needs special technical, scientific or cultural knowledge. The lawmaker, as for any evidence provided in the CPC, provides for the notification of the receipt of this evidence to the subject’s party to the criminal proceeding. Even in this case, the evidence with an expert, namely the decision to appoint an expert, will be notified to the subjects of criminal proceedings of the defendant or his defense counsel.
Evaluation of the quality of wet and dry sand in Velipoja beach (Albania) through microbiological parameters
Microorganisms are natural inhabitants of beach sands. The levels of pathogenic microorganisms in beach sands can increase through direct deposition from human activities, wastewater discharges, and animals. In this study, the presence of pathogenic microorganisms and faecal pollution (E. coli and E. faecalis) was evaluated in the sandy beach of Velipoja, which was monitored during the period April - September 2024 (once a month) in 5 sampling stations with a total of 90 samples (dry sand, wet sand and seawater) were collected and analysed for microbiological parameters. All stations were evaluated using the beach sand classification under the Blue Flag program. Escherichia coli concentration during sampling period ranged from 0 to 52 CFU/g. The maximum value of Escherichia coli was registered in August. This high pollution is a consequence of a surface water discharge channel. Enterococci faecalis concentration during sampling period ranged from 2 to 80 CFU/g. The maximum value of 80 CFU/g was observed at station 4. Based on the results obtained, Velipoja beach does not represent any risk to human health.
Perspectives and challenges of Albania’s integration in the EU - From the fall of communism to the Thessaloniki Summit 1991-2006
In 1991 students filled the squares of Tirana under the slogans “We want Albania like Europe”, only few of them would have imagined that after 32 years from the fall of the communist regime, Albania would still be waiting to be part of the European family. The most optimistic thought that, once the regime fell, freedom and democracy would triumph and the integration process would take only a few years. As for the rest, this process would take time, but even for the pessimists it would never pass 2020. The challenges of Albanian integration in EU, from 1991 to 2006, have been different and often the progress of undertaken reforms within the framework of the European integration has been slow and not at the required level. This slowness is often reflected in the European Commission reports or in declarations of different summits. This phenomenon reflects the limited culture in the state-building and that of political dialogue, which comes as a result of a strong isolation period, almost half a century under the communist dictatorship.
The prevalence of pulmonary diseases in the population of Shkodra in the years 2021-2023 and the influencing factors
Pulmonary diseases are ranked fourth for the high mortality rate, after those tumoral, cardiological or even strokes, which immediately lead to the fatal loss of life. Smoking is listed among the main causes of pulmonary diseases. In addition, another risk factor is air pollution. The main air pollutants are: Carbon monoxide, CO, Dioxide of carbon CO2, Sulfur dioxide SO2, Nitrogen dioxide NO2, fine particles PM, Ozone level O3, Volatile organic compounds (VOC, Lead (Pb)).
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Challenges, Strategies, and Impact
Women entrepreneurs are increasingly shaping the global economic landscape, driv- ing innovation, and contributing to socio-economic development. Despite their grow- ing presence, they face unique challenges that differ from their male counterparts, including gender bias, limited access to capital, and balancing business and family responsibilities. This paper explores the barriers women entrepreneurs encounter, the strategies they employ to overcome these challenges, and the impact of their en- trepreneurial activities on communities and economies. By examining case studies and empirical data, this research highlights the importance of supportive ecosystems, policy interventions, and mentorship in fostering female entrepreneurship. The find- ings underscore the need for a more inclusive entrepreneurial environment that not only empowers women but also enhances overall economic growth.