Jon Kola, an Albanian law student and Secretary General of the European Law Students’ Association (ELSA) in Albania, was part of the 2025 Helga Pedersen Moot Court competition, a premier annual event for aspiring legal professionals focused on human rights law at the premises of the European Court of Human Rights.

Organised by ELSA and held under the patronage of the Council of Europe’s Secretary General, the competition this year welcomed more than 65 teams of students from around Europe in a unique opportunity to engage with the application of the European Convention on Human Rights and sharpen their legal expertise in an international setting.

“Joining the Helga Pedersen Moot Court at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, was a defining moment in my legal journey. It deepened my understanding of human rights law and reinforced my commitment to justice and the rule of law in Albania.
Grateful to EU and the Council of Europe, making this opportunity possible and for investing in the next generation of legal professionals.”, said Jon after the competition.   

Jon’s participation in Helga Pederson Moot Court competition, was made possible through the assistance of the EU and Council of Europe as part of their continuous commitment to empowering the future generation of legal professionals in Albania. Supporting such opportunities helps equip young lawyers to better serve Albanian citizens and uphold the rule of law, in line with European standards.

The Action ‘Improving the protection of the right to property and facilitating the execution of ECtHR judgments in Albania’ is part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye programme. It is designed to empower Albanian citizens by improving their ability to seek and protect their property rights, and to guarantee that related European Court of Human Rights' (ECtHR) judgments are properly enforced.