Albania and the Council of Europe

Albania has functioned as a pluralistic parliamentary democracy since spring elections of 1991. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe sent for the first time observers to this election. Based on the conclusions of the observer mission and the subsequent political developments, the Albanian parliament was granted the status of ‘special guests’ to the Parliamentary Assembly of CoE, on November 25, 1991.

From April 1991 to September 1993 eight constitutional laws were adopted thus improving the legal framework for the development of democracy. These laws provided the construction of a parliamentary republic and settled the foundation for the division of powers. Likewise, the laws provided a list of human rights and fundamental freedoms, based on consultation with international experts.

Albania applied to join the Council of Europe on 4 May 1992. By Resolution (92) 9 of 21 May 1992, the Committee of Ministers asked the Parliamentary Assembly to give an opinion, in accordance with Statutory Resolution (51) 30 A.

Starting from May 1992 the reporters of Monitoring Committee of the Assembly held several successive visits to the country. In January 1993 started the implementation of a joint program, co-organized by the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the fields of human rights and the rule of law. The program addressed, inter alia, the training of court members, lawyers and police, the reform of the Law on Prosecution, the judicial system, the Ministry of Justice and prisons; drafting the civil and criminal code and the codes of relevant procedures.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe evaluated that Albania, in terms of Article 4 of the Statute, was capable and willing to fulfill the conditions for membership to the Council of Europe, as defined in Article 3 which states that: ‘Any member of the Council of Europe must accept the principles of the rule of law and the principle that any person within its jurisdiction enjoy the same human rights and fundamental freedoms, and collaborate sincerely and effectively to the fulfillment of its goals”.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe trusted that Albania shall interpret the commitments taken fully in line with those defined in paragraphs 13 and 16 of its Statute, so it expressed a favorable Opinion in 1995, by accepting the request for membership forwarded by the Albanian authorities.

The thirteen commitments of Opinion 189 (1995) of Parliamentary Assembly settled the basis of obligations and engagements undertaken by the Albanian government with regard to the Council of Europe membership. So far Albania has almost met all of them.

Albania has signed and ratified 89 of the Council of Europe treaties and, most recently, on 7 February 2020, became a full member of the Convention on the Development of the European Pharmacopoeia.

The activities undertaken between the Council of Europe and the Albanian authorities are a positive sign of the ability of the both parties to move forward together.

The contribution of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Albania to the Council of Europe, of the parliamentarians of our country to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and others in Strasbourg, are evidence of the active role that Albania plays in improving standards on our continent.

Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of Albania (May 23 to November 9, 2012)

The Republic of Albania chaired the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for the first time since its membership. To support and promote the fundamental values ​​of the organization, the Albanian Presidency was focused on the following priorities:

Promoting sustainable democratic societies;
Strengthening the local and regional democracy;
Strengthening the rule of law in Europe;
Bringing forward the political reform of the organization;
Guaranteeing the long term effectiveness of the European Court of Human Rights;
Guaranteeing the protection and promotion of human rights;
Stimulating intra- and inter-institutional dialogue.
Promoting sustainable democratic societies;