Today, the Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, hosted a meeting of Albanian beneficiaries with the European Union and the Council of Europe to review the progress achieved during the second year of the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey” (Horizontal Facility).

The three-year Horizontal Facility (May 2016-May 2019) aims to assist authorities in South-East Europe to achieve greater compliance with European standards in three key areas: ensuring justice, fighting economic crime as well as combating discrimination and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups.

Taking stock of the programme implementation, Ms Kleopatra Maliqi, Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, stressed the political importance that the government of Albania attaches to the themes of the Horizontal Facility, in the context of the commitment to the consolidation of the rule of law, democratic governance and protection of human rights in the country.

Ms Pilar Morales, Head of the Programming Department of the Council of Europe, highlighted the relevance and contribution of the Horizontal Facility actions to implementing and supporting the country’s reform agenda: “Actions that are being implemented under the Horizontal Facility are strengthening Albanian legal and policy framework together with the capacities to better comply with the key recommendations of the Council of Europe monitoring bodies and European standards”. Furthermore, she emphasized the responsibilities of the authorities to sustain the results achieved so far and continue with the reform processes. She also welcomed the active use by the authorities of the “Expertise Coordination Mechanism” which provides ad hoc expert advice on legislative and policy issues.

Mr Stephen Stork, the Head of Operations Section I – Governance and Rule of Law, Delegation of the European Union, stated that this is a special year for Albania. Following the steady progress the country has made in a number of key areas, the European Commission decided to propose to the Council the opening of accession negotiations with Albania. Notwithstanding what the Council will decide in a few weeks, remarkable milestones were achieved by Albania and its citizens. This result was possible also thanks to the help of our partners and the Council of Europe is one of our key partners. Together we have developed the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey to support EU candidate countries in strengthening best European standards on rule of law and human rights, to guide them in relevant reforms and positive change as well as to help them throughout implementation of reforms. Albania should make best use of this tool and ensure sustainability of results.

The meeting was attended by representatives of key beneficiary institutions, including representatives of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Supreme, Constitutional and first instance courts, the Prosecutor General Office, the Financial Intelligence Unit, as well as representatives of the Delegation of the European Union and the Council of Europe, who reviewed and provided guidance for the implementation of the seven Actions under the Horizontal Facility:

• Strengthening the quality and efficiency of justice;
• Fighting bullying and extremism in the education system;
• Action against economic crime;
• Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania;
• Supporting effective domestic remedies and facilitating the execution of European Court of Human Rights judgments;
• Preventing and combating discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity;
• Strengthening the protection of national minorities.

The total funding envelope for the seven actions implemented in the country amounts to 4.5 million euros.

Contact for media requests: Mr Blendi Salaj, Council of Europe Office in Tirana