On 25 May 2026, national stakeholders and international partners gathered in Tirana at the consultative roundtable co-organized by the Council of Europe and the Central Election Commission, with the goal of shaping a vision for sustainable electoral training and education.

Ilirjan Celibashi, State Election Commissioner, reiterated the Central Election Commission’s commitments to continuous professional development and voter education, emphasizing the value of ongoing dialogue with both international actors and civil society to refine its approach, drawing on comparative insights and innovative thinking to build effective and future-ready electoral capacity.

Giulia Re, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana, stressed the importance of advancing beyond organizational design and focus on building a culture of continuity, expertise, and institutional memory. She reaffirmed the Council of Europe’s steadfast support for Albania’s democratic reforms.

Thilo Schroeter, Deputy Head of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, noted the role of electoral legal reform in Albania’s European Union accession and underlined the necessity of strong institutional capacities within the Central Election Commission, but also the prioritization of electoral training and voter education.

Franck Daeschler, Co-ordinator of Election programmes, reflected on trusted partnership between Albania and its international partners, underscoring that sustainable, professional and inclusive approaches to training and comprehensive voter education ultimately empower citizens and foster public trust in electoral processes.  

Participants discussed consolidating experiences into a sustainable and operational framework to support long-term institutional development of electoral administration in Albania.

The roundtable took place in the framework of the Strengthening Elections’ Integrity in Albania project, implemented by the Council of Europe and funded by the Federal Republic of Germany.