OSCE Presence in Albania Newsletter| June-July 2026

Strengthening workplace protection mechanisms and preventing labour exploitation is the objective of an awareness-raising campaign launched by the OSCE Presence and the State Labour Inspectorate on 26 June. The campaign has a particular focus on foreign workers, thus responding to the evolving profile of Albania’s labour market. The campaign runs under a Presence’s project funded by the United Kingdom, Norway, Ireland and Italy. It is part of its broader efforts to strengthen Albania's response to labour exploitation and trafficking in human beings. NEWSLETTER On 24 June, the Presence visited Himara to introduce the Environmental Partnership Forum to be piloted in the municipality this year. The Forum gathers local institutions, civil society, businesses and community to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development. It is part of the Presence’s project “Strengthening local government capacities and improving environmental governance in Albania”, implemented in co-ordination with the Ministry of State for Local Government and the Agency for the Support of Local Self- Government. After meeting at the townhall, Amb. Tarran and Mayor Tavo visited the Himara Water Management System. Himara to pilot Environmental Partnership Forum OSCE Presence, Labour Inspectorate launch campaign against labour exploitation Albania explores Swiss experience on referendums To learn from Switzerland’s experience with referendums and direct democracy, the OSCE Presence supported a high-level Albanian delegation visit to Bern on 8–9 June. The delegation included Members of Parliament, members of the Central Election Commission and representatives of the Constitutional Court. The draft law on referendums was also discussed during a meeting between Deputy Head of Presence Clarisse Pasztory and Chair of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group Taulant Balla on 5 June. Ambassador Tarran, SG Gjonçaj discuss parliamentary modernization On 6 July, Ambassador Tarran met with Assembly Secretary General Genci Gjonçaj to discuss progress in modernizing parliamentary services, including the Assembly's strategic plans, bringing Parliament closer to citizens and advancing the implementation of the e-Legislation process. "We are proud to have the OSCE as a strategic partner. Everything we have achieved in Parliament has been achieved together," said Secretary General Gjonçaj. Tarran and Gjonçaj visited the E-Legislation Unit, the Archive and Library and a civic education programme for children. June-July 2026