„Licences, licencing and best practices in mining governance“ was the topic of the regional Balkan workshop and legal consultations being held in Tirana, Republic of Albania in the period from 27th to 29th of April 2026, whereas representatives from North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro participated.
The event was organized by the United States Department of Commerce, through the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Energy and Minerals Governance Program, aimed at improving regulatory practices, facilitating the exchange of experiences, and strengthening regional cooperation in the fields of mining and environmental protection.
The workshop was attended by Filip Petrovski, Jeton Kuchi, Kika Shpritova, and Snezhana Trajanovska-Bogoeva as representatives from the Ministry of energy, mining and mineral resources, and representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning also took part in certain activities.
The workshop focused on key issues related to procedures for issuing licences, licensing, governance of mining activities, and the application of best international practices, with particular emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development.
Winfield Wilson, Senior Advisor and Attorney at CLDP; Jamie Pleune, Professor of Law at the University of Utah; and Giovanna Moscoso, a mining law expert with significant experience in community engagement and mining project governance participated as experts and lecturers.
In the final part of the workshop, consultations were held with CLDP experts, during which opportunities for improving the legal framework and institutional capacities in the mining sector were discussed. Readiness was expressed for further cooperation, including the organization of specialized trainings for institutions, expert support in the drafting and analysis of legal solutions, and comparative analyses with European and U.S. regulatory frameworks.
Additionally, issues related to strategic mine planning, the fiscal regime in mining, strengthening inspection oversight, and the application of best practices in environmental protection and cooperation with local communities were addressed.
As part of the workshop, a meeting was also held with the Director of the Albanian Inspection Authority, during which experiences in the implementation of mining
inspections were exchanged, and a commitment was reaffirmed to enhanced regional cooperation, direct communication, and information exchange among the competent institutions.
The participation of the Macedonian delegation at this workshop represents a significant contribution to strengthening institutional capacities, improving regulatory practices, and deepening regional cooperation in the field of mining and natural resource governance.
With regards,
Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources
