Strengthening the Quality and Efficiency of Justice in Albania (SEJ IV)

January 2023 – December 2026

Strengthening the Quality and Efficiency of Justice in Albania (SEJ IV)

The project is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and is implemented by the Council of Europe.

Context of the project

The project “Strengthening the quality and efficiency of justice in Albania” (SEJ IV) will continue supporting the justice governing institutions and courts in the implementation of the reforms aimed at increasing the efficiency and quality of justice system based on the CEPEJ tools and methodologies as adapted in the Albanian context.

Project’s objectives

The project will contribute to increasing transparency and efficiency of judiciary institutions through improved court management and performance, improved quality of services for users in accordance with CEPEJ standards and tools, and supported by a wider use of IT and online tools. The use of alternative dispute resolution will be expanded, based on CEPEJ Mediation Development Toolkit. In coordination with the Dashboard WB action, the collection, processing and analysis of data on the functioning of the judicial system and judicial statistics according to the CEPEJ methodology will be improved.

Main activities

Capacity building activities on the use of cyberjustice tools (including for the development of the new ICMIS, for notification of the court users and for web-based court users’ satisfaction surveys), quality of justice tools (concerning for example improving the relations of the justice system with public and media) and efficient human resource management.
Common and individual court coaching projects to improve court performance and reduce backlog.
Recommendations and support on improving inspection guidelines and practices.
Training activities and development of specific modules on the efficiency and quality of justice for magistrates.
Recommendations and support on introducing ADR tools.
Workshops to improve the collection, processing and analysis of data on the functioning of the judicial system and judicial statistics according to the CEPEJ methodology (in coordination with Dashboard Western Balkans Action).

Project beneficiaries and stakeholders

Ministry of Justice, Bar Association of Albania, School of Magistrates High Judicial Council, High Prosecutorial Council, High Inspection of Justice, Chamber of Mediation, courts, and court users.

Contacts

Council of Europe - Strasbourg

Anastasiia Nohovitsyna
Project coordinator

Council of Europe office in Tirana (Albania)

Laurela Muca
Project manager

Eglantina Reka
Project Assistant

Translations of CEPEJ documents:

News

Back The CEPEJ and representatives of the Albanian judiciary meet to tackle the backlog of cases

Lucas MATHIEU

Modified 6 Days ago.

The CEPEJ and representatives of the Albanian judiciary meet to tackle the backlog of cases

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.

Berat, Albania 21-22th of May 2026