H.E. Eglantina Gjermeni, Ambassador, Permanent Representative

1543 PC, Agenda Item 2, Report by the Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania     20 November 2025, Vienna

Thank you, Mr. Chair,

Ambassador Tarran,

We thank you for your comprehensive report and for the professionalism and dedication of the OSCE Presence in Albania. The report offers a balanced and encouraging picture of progress, as well as of the deep and trusted partnership between Albania and the OSCE.

This has been another year of steady advancement for my country. Albania continues to demonstrate that reform is not a moment but a mindset, a sustained national commitment to building institutions that serve citizens with integrity and accountability. The rule of law, transparency, and European integration remain at the core of our policy, not because they are demanded of us but because they are chosen by us.

The 2025 parliamentary elections marked another important milestone. They were competitive, professionally administered, and accompanied by a historic innovation: the first ever postal voting for Albanians living abroad. This long-awaited reform reflects our belief that democracy does not end at our borders and that inclusion strengthens trust.

Equally transformative has been the continued consolidation of justice reform, which today stands as one of the most significant achievements of our democratic transition. The work of the Special Anti Corruption Structure, which has reaffirmed that accountability is indivisible and that no one stands above the law. This institution, built with perseverance and public trust, is turning justice from aspiration into daily practice.

We recognise that reforms are never complete, nor are they without challenges. Political polarisation, the need for broader civic participation, and the strengthening of media freedom remain priorities where progress must continue. Yet Albania approaches these challenges with openness, dialogue, and determination, in the same spirit that has guided our journey so far.

We value the cooperation with the OSCE Presence in Albania, particularly in areas that mirror our national priorities, such as good governance, gender equality, youth participation, and environmental protection. We also welcome the Presence’s continued support across areas that are central to Albania’s reform agenda. Its contribution to electoral preparedness, including the professionalisation of election administration, support for out of country voting and voter education, has been indispensable. Equally important has been its work to strengthen parliamentary transparency, support justice institutions, and advance local governance. These efforts reflect a partnership rooted not only in technical expertise but in a shared commitment to democratic consolidation.

We are pleased to highlight several concrete products of our cooperation during this reporting period. The advancement of E-legislation, a project implemented for the first time in our region, has significantly increased transparency, accountability, and public access to the legislative process. Equally important has been the first ever gender audit of the Albanian Parliament, conducted in collaboration with ODIHR, which sets a new benchmark for institutional self assessment and for building a more inclusive and representative Parliament. We also value the Presence’s continuous support to the new justice institutions, particularly the capacity building programmes for the High Judicial Council and the High Prosecutorial Council. This year’s regional activities, including the initiative that for the first time brought together high level justice inspectors from across the region, have further strengthened professional standards and cooperation.

In this context, we also underscore the importance of a Unified Budget, which provides the predictability and resources needed for the Presence and all OSCE field operations to continue delivering such tangible results across the region.

Mr. Chair,

We are deeply aware that these achievements unfold at a time when the European security architecture faces profound strain. Violations of international law, protracted conflicts, disinformation, rising authoritarian tendencies, and shrinking civic space challenge the foundations of our common security. In this environment, the OSCE’s role as a platform for dialogue, confidence building and principled cooperation is more vital than ever. Albania will continue to defend these principles consistently and without ambiguity.

Albania is a small country but one that is determined to play a meaningful role in advancing security, dialogue, and cooperation. We are proud to be a committed NATO ally, an active contributor to the Transatlantic partnership, and a country advancing firmly on its European path. Our foreign policy rests on principle and partnership, on the principle of international law and on the partnership of those who stand for peace, democracy, and human dignity.

We are equally proud of our unwavering support for Ukraine and its courageous people. Albania has stood and will continue to stand on the side of sovereignty, freedom, and justice, because these are not only the foundations of our collective security but also the moral compass of our diplomacy. Our support is rooted in the Helsinki Final Act itself: in the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, in the inadmissibility of the use of force, in the right of peoples to self-determination, and in the right of every nation to choose its own path. These are not abstract principles.

They are the foundations of security for all of us.

Mr. Chair,

The OSCE’s work in Albania has been a story of partnership and progress. It reflects a shared journey of reform and trust that we are proud to continue as we move forward with our European integration and our broader international commitments.

As host country, Albania remains a steadfast supporter of this Organisation and of the values that define it: dialogue, democracy and human dignity. The strength of this Organisation has always rested on the collective resolve of its participating States to live by its principles. Albania will continue to carry its share with conviction and with full confidence in the OSCE’s unique role in our region and beyond.

I thank all my colleagues who took the floor for their continuous and constructive support, which we greatly appreciate.

Thank you.