Statement by Ambassador H.E. Eglantina Gjermeni,  Permanent Representative of Albania to the International Organizations in Vienna,

in response to the report by the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia

Meeting 1575 of the Permanent Council, 30 July 2026, Vienna

Thank you, Mr. Chair,

Albania welcomes Ambassador Marcel Peško and thanks him for his report to the Permanent Council. The OSCE has played an indispensable role in the positive transformation of Western Balkans and the Mission to Serbia is no exception.

The Mission continues to be regarded as an impartial and trusted partner by institutions, civil society and the media alike. Through its sustained field presence and cross-dimensional mandate, it makes an important contribution to human rights, media freedom, the rule of law and security, helping to build trust among institutions and communities.

We share the view that the Mission’s field outlets in South and Southwest Serbia remain an invaluable resource for the Mission’s early warning function and support for national minorities. We appreciate the Mission’s outreach with minorities and work with National Minority Councils.

In this context, we reiterate our concern regarding the practice known as passivisation of addresses, whereby residents belonging to the Albanian community in Bujanoc, Medvegjë and Preshevë are removed from official residence records, with resulting restrictions on their civil and political rights, including access to identity documents. This issue has been explicitly addressed in the concluding observations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination  on Serbia, as well as in the November 2025 resolution of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, “On the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection on National Minorities by Serbia”.

Beyond the issue of passivisation of addresses, concerns persist regarding the effective inclusion of the Albanian minority in public institutions. As the Mission rightly notes, under-representation of national minorities in public institutions remains a driver of distrust and a latent security risk. Albanians continue to be significantly underrepresented in public institutions. This underrepresentation is particularly evident in the judiciary, prosecution services, police, tax administration, public enterprises, and other key sectors of the public administration.

We also continue to follow closely the unresolved issues related to the recognition of diplomas and professional qualifications, including those covered by agreements concluded within the framework of the Berlin Process.

It is equally important to recall that a number of previously agreed commitments and frameworks aimed at advancing the integration of Albanians remain unimplemented. These include commitments arising from the Seven-Point Plan (2013), the Action Plan (2022), as well as the recommendations of the OSCE, among others. The continued failure to implement these commitments has contributed to a growing sense of exclusion and mistrust among members of the Albanian community.

Addressing these issues is essential for ensuring equal opportunities, strengthening trust in public institutions and promoting the effective participation of the Albanian minority in society. We encourage the Mission to continue its engagement with the Serbian authorities and representatives of the Albanian minority in southern Serbia toward this objective.

Earlier in this Council we expressed our clear and firm position regarding the unacceptable and irresponsible statements made recently by a member of the Serbian Government. We emphasize the need to unequivocally reject rhetoric that fuels tensions, undermines regional stability and co-operation, and runs counter to the spirit of good-neighbourly relations and European values.

We remain convinced that the EU-facilitated Dialogue is the only viable path towards the full normalization of relations between Kosova and Serbia. Its successful conclusion would open a new chapter in relations between the two neighbouring countries and make a vital contribution to lasting peace, stability and co-operation across the wider region. We therefore urge Serbia to engage in the Dialogue in good faith.

Mr. Chair, colleagues,

Albania remains unwavering in its commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Western Balkans and to constructive co-operation with all its neighbours as we advance on our shared European accession path.

The Mission to Serbia has an important role to play both in the national and regional context and Albania fully supports its work.

We wish Ambassador Peško and his team success in their work! Thank you!