A new Law on Territorial Planning came into force on 1 September
2010. 5.3.5 Architecture and spatial planning After three years
of consultations with EU experts, the Ministry of Public Works
and Transportation submitted a draft Law on Territorial Planning
that was passed by the Parliament on 23 April 2009 (Law no.
10119). The new Law came into force in full only on 1 September
1 2010, with the abolishment of Law no. 8405 of 1998 on Urban
Planning. The newly formed National Territorial Planning Agency
(NTPA) is now in charge of drafting policies and rules for
better administration of the territory and the renamed National
Territory Council (NTC) will be the decision-making body
responsible for enacting the national planning instruments, in
line with the stipulations contained in this Law. It is not
clear yet whether the full implementation of the new Law will
improve the planning situation. Territory Councils, whether the
National one chaired by the Prime Minister, or the local ones
chaired by respective city