Property rights issues are still considered today a major concern in Albania. Despite the institutional and legal action taken to compensate for property nationalised under the Communist regime, many unresolved cases are still waiting to be processed and enforced by Albanian authorities.

The Action “Supporting effective domestic remedies and facilitating the execution of judgments in Albania” is supporting Albanian authorities to honour their commitment to solve the longstanding structural problem of compensation.

In this context, a study visit to the Federal Office for Central Services and Unresolved Property Issues in Berlin, Germany (BADV) took place on 9-10 October for selected representatives of five beneficiary institutions closely involved in compensation process in Albania (Ministry of Justice, State Advocate, Agency for the Treatment of Property, Public Bailiff Service, Office for Registration of Immovable Property).

The purpose of this visit was to learn from positive experience of a country that has faced and successfully solved similar issues in the past and to discuss further possible steps for Albania. Study visit participants had an opportunity to meet with the representatives of the hosting institution (BADV), practicing lawyer working on German restitution cases, legal advisor to the Jewish Claims Conference, and a representative of former owners of properties.

The Project “Supporting effective domestic remedies and facilitating the execution of judgments in Albania” is funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe Horizontal Facility programme and implemented by the Council of Europe.

The Federal Office for Central Services and Unresolved Property Issues in Berlin, Germany (BADV)