Representatives from beneficiaries and partner institutions gathered in Tirana for the fourth Steering Committee meeting of the European Union and Council of Europe joint action Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in Albania (PRO-FREX-A).

During the meeting, participants reviewed progress, set ongoing priorities, and co-ordinated next steps to advance freedom of expression and media freedom in line with European standards. Members of the Steering Committee praised close co-operation among public authorities, independent actors and international partners, emphasising the shared responsibility to safeguard freedom of expression. This collective commitment remains vital to strengthening Albania’s democracy and supporting its ongoing EU integration process.

Participants agreed that comprehensive and collaborative efforts are essential to further strengthen the independence and resilience of the Albanian media sector, in line with Council of Europe recommendations.

The action Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in Albania is implemented by the Council of Europe Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression and is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, as part of the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye.