News and press releases

From 18 to 21 November 2024, the OSCE Presence in Albania organized a series of joint training sessions aimed at strengthening the capacity of prosecutors, police officers and environmental inspectors in tackling environmental crimes. The training, attended by 52 participants from Shkodra, Lezha, Kukës, Berat, Korça and Elbasan, focused on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting environmental offenses.

From 19 to 21 November 2024, the OSCE Presence in Albania, in co-operation with the General Directorate of Prisons, organized a training-of-trainers seminar for 35 senior prison staff. The focus was on the Nelson Mandela Rules, the revised UN standards for the treatment of prisoners, which aim to protect the rights of people in detention, including protection from torture and ill-treatment.

In view of Albania's upcoming 2025 parliamentary elections, the OSCE Presence and the Central Election Commission (CEC) organized a technical workshop titled “Elections 2025: The role of media in the electoral process – Challenges and opportunities”, on 18 November 2024.

A Legal Clinic was inaugurated today at the University of Elbasan, in which lecturers and fifth-year law students will offer free legal advice to people in need.

On 7 and 8 November 2024, the School of Magistrates, in close co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania, organized a training on investigation and adjudication of criminal offences related to public procurement.

From 4 to 7 November 2024, prosecutors of the Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) and high officials of the Albanian State Police conducted a study visit to Italy focused on operational aspects of financial investigations.

On 1 November 2024, the OSCE Presence hosted an insightful meeting of the International Election Working Group with some main civil society organizations actively working on elections.