On 27 and 28 May 2025, the CyberSEE project, a joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe, supported the Albanian Ministry of Justice in the organization of a legislative workshop in Tirana. This activity represents a follow-up to the initial workshop held in November 2024 and is part of a broader strategic process to support the country in aligning its domestic legal framework with the provisions of the Second Additional Protocol (2AP) to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention).
The workshop convened representatives of the Ministry of Justice, members of the national working group responsible for steering the legislative reform process, and other institutional stakeholders. In a collaborative setting, legal practitioners, policy-makers and representatives from key public authorities engaged in advancing the national dialogue on reforming the domestic legislation for the implementation of the Second Additional Protocol. The discussions were guided by Council of Europe consultants and legal experts, building on the Assessment Report previously prepared and shared with Albanian authorities.
The workshop also addressed drafting Albania’s ratification law and related declarations and reservations under EU Council Decision 2023/436, emphasizing the need for legal coherence with existing domestic legislation and alignment with European human rights and data protection standards.
The activity facilitated consensus among stakeholders on legislative options and marked tangible progress in drafting the required legal amendments. It also provided a platform to agree on the next steps of the reform roadmap, further reinforcing national coordination and institutional readiness for the effective implementation of the Protocol.
The Council of Europe, through its Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC) and the CyberSEE project, reaffirms its commitment to supporting Albania in completing its legislative reform process. This includes tailored legal guidance, capacity building, and enhanced cooperation to ensure that national authorities are well equipped to address the challenges of cybercrime and electronic evidence in line with the standards of the Budapest Convention and its Second Additional Protocol.
Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC)