In a significant step towards modernising Albania's media landscape, the European Union and Council of Europe, in close co-operation with the Albanian Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA), hosted a two-day roundtable in Tirana.

Representatives from AMA, government officials, and experts from the Council of Europe gathered to explore how Albanian legislation can harmonise with EU norms and Council of Europe standards. The sessions provided an in-depth look at the key provisions of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), especially as they pertain to video-sharing platforms, and examined strategies for effective institutional co-ordination in digital regulation.

Participants benefitted from comparative insights and practical examples shared by Francesco Di Giorgi, Senior Legal Officer at the Italian media regulatory authority AGCOM, with a focus on supervision, monitoring, and enforcement under EU law on digital services. The expert-led sessions enabled AMA staff and key stakeholders to identify legislative gaps, discuss implementation strategies, and develop concrete recommendations for strengthening regulatory oversight and compliance in the digital environment.

Interactive discussions and exercises enabled participants to develop actionable strategies for enhancing Albania’s regulatory environment, contributing directly to the country’s ongoing media reforms.

This workshop was organised by the Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression under the the joint European Union and Council of Europe action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in Albania” (PROFREX-A)”, part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.