The EU and the People’s Advocate institution of Albania launched the Twinning Project “Support to Office of the People’s Advocate and promotion of human rights in Albania”.  

On 24 October 2022, the People’s Advocate institute of Albania hosted the kick-off meeting of the Twinning Project “Support to the Office of the People’s Advocate and promotion of human rights in Albania”, funded by the European Union in the framework of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance.

In this Twinning Project, the People’s Advocate of Albania is cooperating with the Austrian Ombudsman Board and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights.

This project aims at aligning the current legal framework in force on protection and promotion of human rights with the EU acquis, strengthening the capacity of the People’s Advocate Institution as a National Human Rights Institution and providing recommendations for an upgrade of the case management system of the People’s Advocate according to successful models of EU member states.

The event was opened by Ms. Erinda Ballanca, Ombudswoman of Albania and was followed by Mr. Christian Steiner, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria in Albania, Mr. Hubert Perr, Head of Cooperation at EU Delegation to Albania, Ms. Jutta Gützkow, Head of Council of Europe Office, Ms. Patricia Mussi-Mailer, Administrative Director of Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights. Finally, Mr. Peter Kastner, Member State Project Leader/Deputy Chief of Cabinet at the Austrian Ombudsman Board and Ms. Katrin Wladasch, component leader for strengthening the capacity presented the project to the representatives in more details.  

During the meeting, it was emphasized the importance of the twinning project in the context of the opening of negotiations for Albania on its path towards accession into the European Union. Moreover, some of the results achieved so far were introduced, such as the start of work related to the alignment of the legislation, revising the law in force, implementation of other components regarding the increase of capacities of the staff of the People’s Advocate, as well as the upgrade of the case management system.

In her speech, Ms. Ballanca stated that: “Albania still has great problems in the field of human rights, but I cannot imagine the distance we would have at the point where we are today, if Europe was not there for us, with the intensity of its democratic and humanistic radiation. This project we are launching today is a proof of the care that Europe has for a human rights institution in a European country like Albania. But for us, this is a thrilling excess of what Europe can do for us, as it has already done so much simply by existing”.

Mr. Perr, Head of Cooperation at EU Delegation to Albania stated that Albania is Europe, in which the twinning project as a tool to share expertise, through the co-operation between partners such as the People’s Advocate of Albania and Austria conveys the values and standards of the European Union. Furthermore, he emphasized that the project is also important in the enlargement context, as negotiations were opened for Albania as well as the fact that human rights according to the Copenhagen criteria are the core of this process.

Mr. Steiner, pointed out the important role that Austria has played in supporting our country through various projects such as the assistance provided by Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights in various projects in Albania, or also through the project which is being implemented by the Austrian Development Agency in the field of rule of law, therefore contributing more to the integration process of Albania.  

Ms. Gützkow, expressed her commitment and personal willingness to further strengthen the co-operation between the Council of Europe Office and the People’s Advocate in the field of protection and promotion of human rights, creating a new culture, but also co-operating in other areas as well.

Ms. Mussi-Mailer, appreciated the good co-operation between partners in implementing this project and pointed out its role in the integration process of Albania into the EU and also stated that even though the Ombuds institution is widely perceived as the most trusted and most effective controller of the executive, the co-operation with the parliament, the human, technical and financial resources need to be further strengthened. She stressed full commitment of the institute to support the People’s Advocate and our country through this twinning project on the way towards EU accession.

Mr. Kastner, highly appreciated the fruitful co-operation between partners and briefly presented the first successful steps, focusing on the implementation of three components of this project and stated that he was confident that the project will continue to be implemented in an effective and constructive way. 

As an important result achieved so far, he mentioned the gathering of information on the existing legal framework, the current gaps in the legislative framework and the main challenges concerning the mandate and functioning of the People’s Advocate, aiming at aligning the current legislation with EU acquis.

For more information about the Twinning project go to link on the website of the People’s Advocate: https://www.avokatipopullit.gov.al/sq/categories/activities/projekte/article

Project partners:

• People’s Advocate, Albania  
• Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB), Austria
• Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights, Austria