The Council of Europe supported the Central Election Commission (CEC) in validating and operationalising its Strategic Plan, and Education Strategy (2027-2031) at a two-day workshop. Building on earlier support to develop the strategies, the workshop brought together CEC leadership and staff, members of the Appeals and Sanctions Commission and the Regulatory Commission, as well as Council of Europe representatives and experts.
Opening the event, Ilirjan Celibashi, State Election Commissioner, emphasised that the strategies are owned by the CEC and should guide its work in the years ahead. He stressed the Commission’s readiness to put the identified priorities into practice.
Liri Kopaci-Di Michele, Head of Parliamentary and Electoral Cooperation Division, highlighted how the strategies combine the CEC’s assessment of its needs and priorities with national and international expertise. She reaffirmed the Council of Europe’s commitment to supporting the CEC in strengthening its institutional capacity and effectiveness.
Franck Daeschler, Co-ordinator of Election Programmes, outlined how the strategies were developed through institutional self-assessment, a review and analysis of the previous Strategic Plan, extensive consultations with CEC directorates and other stakeholders, as well as expert input. He noted that the strategies reflect the CEC’s priorities and institutional context, while taking into account relevant OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, resolutions of the Assembly of Albania and EU accession framework. He also underlined the Council of Europe’s support for establishing a permanent CEC Training and Education Centre, envisaged as a general directorate within the CEC’s new institutional structure, which is currently under consideration by Parliament.
Participants reviewed the strategic goals, objectives and actions, agreed on a responsibility map clarifying institutional roles, and identified initial activities for the 2027 workplan. Furthermore, they discussed indicators and mechanisms for monitoring progress. The workshop laid practical foundations for implementing the strategic framework from 2027 onwards, while reinforcing the CEC’s ownership of the process.
The workshop was organised 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.
