Tirana, October 8, 2026 – The Ombudsman, Mr. Endrit Shabani, and the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro, Mr. Siniša Bjeković, signed a bilateral cooperation agreement today in Tirana.

During the visit, both delegations were also received by the President of the Republic, Mr. Bajram Begaj.

The agreement between the two countries establishes a dedicated communication channel and designates contact points within each institution. Complaints filed by citizens and residents against the public authorities of the other country will be forwarded directly to the counterpart institution, which will handle them in accordance with its respective mandate.

"A citizen encountering a problem with the administration across the border often does not know where to turn. This agreement provides a clear point of contact. For two countries negotiating EU membership, this represents practical, not merely ceremonial, cooperation," said Mr. Shabani.

"We view this cooperation as an opportunity to strengthen our shared European perspective and to contribute, through our respective mandates, to the further advancement of human rights and democratic standards on the path toward EU membership," said Mr. Bjeković. Priority areas include children's rights, the prevention of torture, non-discrimination, national minority rights, the rights of migrants and the diaspora, environmental protection, and digital rights.

The delegations exchanged experiences regarding the work of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) and engagement with the ENNHRI, GANHRI, and IOI networks.

This agreement follows a trilateral arrangement with counterpart institutions in Kosovo and North Macedonia and is part of the regional cooperation among Ombudsman institutions in the Western Balkans. Mr. Shabani also chairs the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen (AOM), which Montenegro intends to join soon.

The aim is also to publish, jointly with Kosovo and North Macedonia, an annual report on the state of human rights in the region.