Transparency and access to information in Albania: Challenges and the need for Action

In Albania, challenges related to transparent governance and access to information remain evident, reflecting several findings from GRECO’s Fifth Evaluation Round. The report[1] highlights that delayed access, lack of proactive transparency, and incorrect limitations in existing laws are the main obstacles preventing citizens and businesses from exercising their right to information. According to GRECO’s second compliance report on Albania, only 18 out of 24 recommendations have been fully implemented, while several remain partially implemented or entirely unimplemented[2].

In this context, it is concerning that few organizations have the courage to act and speak out as envisioned by GRECO. The absence of an independent complaints and oversight mechanism has contributed to this silence. GRECO notes that some institutions, such as the Ombudsman, are overloaded with human rights issues, reducing their effectiveness in handling access-to-information complaints.

This has created an environment where citizens and civil society organizations often do not feel supported in seeking transparency and accountability from public institutions.

Furthermore, GRECO’s report highlights that many public institutions fail to fulfill their proactive transparency obligations, not publishing the necessary information for citizens and businesses. This has resulted in a lack of trust in public institutions and increased skepticism regarding commitments to fight corruption and promote integrity. In this situation, it is essential for civil society organizations to act courageously and demand the implementation of GRECO’s recommendations, contributing to stronger transparency and accountability in Albania.

In practice, these challenges manifest in very concrete ways. Procedures for information requests are often burdensome and bureaucratic, including long response times and unnecessary documentation, which slow down effective access for citizens and businesses. The absence of independent government oversight mechanisms makes it difficult to monitor legal compliance and reduces the possibility of effective complaints in cases of refusal or delay. Furthermore, practices for publishing administrative documents are limited and unsystematic; many institutions do not publish information proactively, leaving citizens dependent solely on individual requests, which often face administrative hurdles.

Although the Law on the Right to Public Information exists, its implementation remains fragmented and delayed, creating a gap between legal rights and practical reality, and making it difficult for citizens to exercise this right effectively and in a timely manner.

In this context, the challenge is not only the lack of courage to act but also insufficient cooperation between civil society actors and public institutions. Only a few organizations rigorously follow the implementation of the Right to Public Information law, identifying gaps and suggesting better practices, while most fail to exert sustainable influence. Existing monitoring and awareness activities often remain isolated, failing to create a supportive network that ensures full and timely access to public information. Without stronger coordination and active engagement from various actors—citizens, media, and monitoring organizations—institutions do not feel compelled to improve their practices, leaving real accountability limited.

In the Albanian context, the challenges highlighted by GRECO are even more pronounced. Currently, the lack of an independent oversight mechanism with full authority and adequate resources means institutions do not feel obliged to fully and timely implement the Right to Public Information law. Existing complaint procedures are often burdensome and delayed, making it difficult for citizens and businesses to exercise their rights in practice.

Moreover, access restrictions are often unclear or incorrect in law, allowing excessive interpretation by institutions and consequently hindering transparency. This situation fosters a culture of silence and limits citizens’ trust in public administration, as information that should be open and available often remains restricted or delayed.

From our perspective, this combination of ineffective oversight, complex procedures, and unclear legal limitations makes it practically impossible for the right to information to function as a genuine tool for accountability and transparency in Albania. Without addressing these issues, the law remains more a formal principle than a tangible instrument for citizens and businesses, creating a gap between rhetoric and practical reality.

In the Albanian reality, the lack of institutional action and widespread public initiatives makes exercising the right to information practically difficult. The willingness to monitor and demand accountability remains limited and often rests only in the hands of a few courageous civil society actors. Without a strong culture of transparency and effective oversight mechanisms, the Right to Public Information risks remaining a formal legal declaration, not a tangible reality for citizens. Only when Albanian institutions take responsibility and establish sustainable practices for law implementation can there be genuine transparency, accountability, and corruption prevention. Until then, the challenge remains significant, and only a few actors are willing to act according to international standards set out in reports such as GRECO’s, making it clear that improving the situation requires sustained institutional commitment and cultural change.

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[1] https://rm.coe.int/access-to-information-thematic-paper-final-for-publication-en-230625/4880289dcb

[2] https://rm.coe.int/grecorc5-2025-5-final-eng-2nd-compliance-report-albania-public/1680b4daab