On 21 and 22 May 2026, the CEPEJ organised a seminar in Berat bringing together members and staff of the High Council of Justice (HCJ), representatives of the Ministry of Justice and Albanian judges to discuss the management of the backlog of cases in the national courts.

The Vice-President of the HCJ and the Deputy Minister of Justice both stated that reducing the backlog was a priority for the Albanian justice system, not only as a means of ensuring the efficiency of the justice system and providing a swift response to those seeking justice, but also to comply with European standards on fair trial. The High Council of Justice thus reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening judicial efficiency with the support of CEPEJ and its tools. 
Participants discussed the CEPEJ’s judicial data and efficiency indicators, which can be used to better understand and reduce case backlogs. Organisational measures, case management practices, digital tools and training initiatives that could be implemented in the medium and long term within the courts were also discussed.

Furthermore, in cooperation with the initiative entitled ‘Strengthening the protection of the right to property and facilitating the enforcement of ECHR judgments in Albania (D-REX III)’, a case study focusing on property cases requiring financial expertise enabled participants to discuss and analyse working methods as well as the practical challenges involved in reducing the backlog in these complex cases. 

The activity was organised in the framework of the action “Strengthening the Efficiency and Quality of Justice in Albania” (SEJIV), co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe under the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye.