Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Presence in Albania What we do The mandate of the OSCE Presence in Albania is to promote democratization, the rule of law and human rights, as well as to consolidate democratic institutions, in line with OSCE principles, Over more than two decades, the Presence has participated standards and commitments. actively in the country’s most important reforms, including electoral, judicial, property and decentralization reforms.
The OSCE Presence provides i) Supporting law enforcement assistance and expertise, and the fight against crime; ii) in close consultation and Countering corruption, co-operation with the trafficking and environmental Government of Albania and degradation; iii) Promoting the other State institutions and rule of law, justice reform and organizations, to the Albanian human rights; iv) Advancing authorities as well as to democracy, with an emphasis representatives of civil society. on electoral reform, support to parliament and to a free and The Presence was established facts-based media. in 1997, following the collapse of pyramid schemes, to help All those activities are stabilise the country and co- implemented while promoting ordinate international gender equality and The Presence works to prevent and counter violent extremism assistance. strengthening the and radicalization that lead to terrorism in prisons and probation involvement of youth and civil services and to strengthen women’s role against VERLT. Today, the Presence’s activities society. concentrate on four key priority areas:
The Presence helps authorities better identify and protect victims of trafficking, fight against various forms of crime and enhance community engagement in security and safety matters. How we work To help achieve lasting change, the Grounded in its Mandate, the ultimate goal of the Presence is Building bridges
Presence uses its multinational Albania with strong institutions and practices of democracy, One of the Presence’s strengths is its ability to build bridges in-house expertise, institutional justice, the rule of law and security that operate effectively, and bring people together – to co-operate from within the knowledge and long-term relationships accountably, and are trusted by citizens, in fulfilment of Albanian country and across borders, to address challenges or with stakeholders, focusing on the aspirations and the values and commitments of OSCE enhance reconciliation. The OSCE Presence’s work institutions and helping to shape policy participating States. includes support to improve transparency, integrity and and strategy. The Presence operates Implementing accountability and ensure inclusive citizen participation priority projects within a comprehensive approach, in decision-making processes. There is a focus on how citizens At the request of national adding wherever possible a cross partners, the Presence has interact with their democracy, recognizing that citizens have a actively participated and border regional dimension to its continues to participate in many role in monitoring and setting standards for the proper of the most important reform programmes. This approach ensures the efforts of the past two decades, functioning of their institutions. The Presence emphasizes including electoral, judicial, efficiency, coherence and impact of the property and decentralization responsibilities as well as rights.
reforms. It reviews and Presence’s work, addressing challenges comments on draft legislation, Activating citizen participation promotes and facilitates public from different directions. consultation, and advises on the By strengthening a sense design and implementation of of civic engagement, new policies. The diverse empowerment and mandate allows the Presence to responsibility among Albanian The OSCE Presence works in • Meaningful and impartial answer local requests for citizens, particularly women, co-ordination and partnership implementation of the law; expertise and technical young people and members with a wide range of Albanian • Effective and proper assistance. of marginalized groups, the and international actors, and functioning of institutions; The Presence has led or Presence is helping them also takes a strong regional • Creation of a relationship contributed significantly to a to get their voices heard. approach and peer-to-peer of trust between citizens and large number of projects that In addition to strengthening exchange. The Presence does authorities, at both central have had a direct impact on the the transparency and outreach all this with the support of and local level, as well as well-being of the Albanian of institutions towards the 57 OSCE participating between political opponents. population. This includes efforts citizens, the Presence works States, including Albania. to remove and destroy surpluses The Presence facilitates to enhance knowledge and of conventional ammunition consultation on development skills among citizens at large. Fostering sustainable and reform, bringing together and dangerous chemicals, change all the stakeholders in a process, address risks associated with small arms and light weapons, applying a comprehensive Structures and laws are help authorities better identify approach and fostering not enough. The Presence and protect victims of relations between institutions. works towards: trafficking, fight against various forms of crime, enhance community engagement – in particular of women and youth – in security and safety matters, improve the judicial efficiency and access to justice, advance media development and promote human rights. How we work (continued)
Activating citizen The rule of law participation starts with you The Presence’s community The Presence is actively working focused civil society initiatives to establish a rule of law help these citizens understand environment in Albania in which better how their democracy laws are clear, fair, predictable works and then give them the and applied equally to everyone. skills and experience to make it A rule of law culture is the basis work for them. for progress across all three of The Presence has stimulated the OSCE’s dimensions - a the awareness and engagement precondition for security, The Presence brings a stronger voice of women, youth and of young people, minorities sustainable economic civil society at large into its work across dimensions. and people with disabilities, development, a functioning and has helped to increase democracy and protection of the representation of human rights. Through its women in politics. message “The rule of law starts It is not just about an impartial, In the long-term, active with you”, the Presence reliable judicial system, but citizens are the best monitors encourages citizens to be not a rule of law culture in which of their own democracy. just passive "recipients" of the every citizen participates. rule of law, but active contributors, alongside official institutions – with every action of every citizen.
Facts and figures (As of July 2025)
Head of Presence Staff Annual Budget (2021)
Ambassador Michel Tarran of About 100 - across Unified Budget France (since 14 May 2024) and Extra-Budgetary projects EUR 2,891,200
Follow OSCE OSCE Presence in Albania Sheshi “Italia” Tiranë, Shqipëri Office: +35542240001
E-mail: pm-al@osce.org www.osce.org/presence-in-albania twitter.com/OSCEinAlbania facebook.com/OSCE.Albania instagram.com/osceinalbania