As Albania progresses in the process of aligning its legal framework with European standards, including the Digital Services Act (DSA), representatives of the Council of Europe, the European Union and the Albanian Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) gathered in Tirana to discuss specific provisions on transparency, user protection, regulatory oversight.

The event was organised within the joint EU and Council of Europe action on “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in Albania” (PROFREX-A), and built upon a roundtable organised earlier this year. A Council of Europe comparative analysis was presented, which identifies regulatory gaps and makes recommendations for targeted interventions to achieve full compliance with the European acquis. Key topics included platform liability, reporting requirements, and co-operation with public authorities.

During the discussions participants underlined the importance of effective transposition of DSA provisions into the Albanian legal framework in the context of the ongoing media law reforms as well as Albania’s broader efforts to harmonise its legislation with the European Acquis. In the conclusion of the meeting participants agreed on a roadmap of next steps designed to advance regulatory compliance with European standards. These include introducing user-friendly notice-and-action procedures for illegal content, mandating internal complaint-handling systems for online platforms, and enhancing protections for minors.

The Digital Services Act (DSA) introduces rules for online services used by European citizens in their everyday life including marketplaces, social media networks, app stores, and online travel and accommodation platforms. It helps to make the online environment safe and trustworthy.

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