Since joining the Council of Europe in 1995 and ratifying the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 2000, Albania has undertaken a series of ambitious reforms to strengthen local self-government. A key milestone was the 2015 Territorial Administrative Reform (Law 115/2015), which consolidated 373 local authorities into 61 municipalities, restructuring local governance with administrative units as functional components.

Building on the findings of the 2021 Congress monitoring report - which underscored the need for greater financial resources and deeper decentralisation - Albania developed its 2023–2030 decentralisation strategy, emphasising sustainable development, digital governance, financial autonomy, and democratic participation.

Ongoing projects in Albania

 Advancing Local Governance and Civic Engagement through Institutional Reform in Albania - ALGORA

The ALGORA project aims to support Albania’s public administration reform by enhancing multilevel governance, strengthening institutional capacities, and promoting participatory governance practices at local level, in line with European standards. 

Learn more about this project

 Strengthening innovative democracy in South-East Europe

The project aims at enhancing local democracy and promoting more transparent and inclusive local public institutions in South-East Europe, building on increased awareness and evident demand in the region for more deliberative and participative democracy.  It focuses on strengthening capacities of local authorities, piloting Citizens’ Assemblies, and improving legal frameworks to embed participatory and deliberative processes as complement to representative democracy in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

Learn more about this project

*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.

Назад The role of local government authorities in the decentralisation reform process in Albania

The role of local government authorities in the decentralisation reform process in Albania

The Congress held a consultation meeting, on 6 October 2015 in Tirana, with Albanian mayors on the role of local government authorities in the decentralisation reform process in Albania. Chaired by Juliana Hoxha, Vice-President of the Congress, the meeting has been organised in co-operation with Albanian Local Government Associations (AAM and ALAA). On the basis of a series of reports from Congress’ local and international experts (on the draft law on functions and finances, the establishment and role of the Consultative Council and the role and representation of LGAs), it provided mayors with the opportunity to exchange their views on these topics of direct interest for Local Government Units. The result of their discussions, and of previous consultations, will be included in the preparations of the National Conference on 30 October, which will bring together all 61 recently elected Albanian mayors, to celebrate the anniversary of the opening for signature of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. The meeting was organised in the framework of its project ' Strengthening Local Government Structures and Cooperation of Local Elected Representatives in Albania – Phase II ' and more specifically its line of Action II 'Building a sustainable, pluralistic and unified platform of Dialogue for Local Government in Albania' and as a follow-up of its Recommendation 349(2013) on Local and Regional Democracy in Albania.

Cooperation activities in Albania

Photos [Flickr]    

 

The role of local authorities Albania 6 October 2015
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page

Completed projects in Albania

Strengthening Local Government Structures in Albania" (2017-2019)

Aim of the project was to strengthen the local government structures in Albania through standard setting and capacitated administration on good governance principles.

Project page

Sustaining Public Administration Reform at Local Level in Albania (2022-2025)

The project supports Public Administration Reform by strengthening the institutional framework for the training and development of local officials and elected representatives. It promotes good democratic governance by enhancing the capacity of Local Government Units to manage human resources effectively and in line with national legislation. Based on Council of Europe standards, the project provides legal and policy advice and delivers capacity-building activities using adapted European best practices and tools from the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance.

Learn more about this project

Promoting deliberative democracy and innovative approaches to citizen participation in South-East Europe (2024-2025)

Focused on Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, the project seeks to advance deliberative democracy as an innovative approach to citizen participation in local decision-making, complementing representative democracy; and develop the skills and capacities of local authorities and their associations in organising effective deliberative processes.

Learn more about this project

*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.