Representatives from main 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, discussed ongoing priorities, and co-ordinated next steps to boost freedom of expression and media freedom in line with European standards. Members of the Steering Committee of the action praised close co-operation among public authorities, independent actors and international partners, emphasising the shared responsibility to safeguard freedom of expression. This commitment is seen as vital to Albania’s democracy and its ongoing EU integration.

Participants agreed that comprehensive and joint action remains essential for further strengthening 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”.