OSCE Presence, Swiss Embassy sign agreement with Albania on support to parliament and civic education

The Albanian government, the OSCE Presence in Albania and the Swiss Embassy signed on 18 June 2019 an agreement for implementing a project to support the Albanian parliament and citizen engagement in decision-making.

The project Support to Parliament and Civic Education in Albania– implemented by the OSCE Presence in Albania with Swiss funding – will focus on making the parliament administration more efficient and effective, on improving the parliament’s legislative, representative and oversight functions, and on making citizens more active in relations with the parliament.  

“The OSCE Presence in Albania has been the closest partner of the Albanian Assembly and the Albanian people throughout their challenges, and will remain a strong supporter of Albania’s institutions and citizens as they tackle their highest priority tasks for a functional democracy,” said Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania Ambassador Bernd Borchardt, who signed the agreement on behalf of the OSCE Presence.

The agreement was also signed by Albania’s Minister of State for Relations with Parliament Elisa Spiropali and Swiss Ambassador Adrian Maître, with the attendance of the Secretary General of the Albanian Assembly, Genc Gjonçaj.

Minister Spiropali thanked the OSCE for its uninterrupted support to the Albanian parliament, and the Swiss Embassy for the Swiss contribution.

“This agreement is part of the Swiss Cooperation Strategy in Albania, in terms of building democratic institutions that are representative and well-functioning. The project aims to develop the Parliament into a better-performing institution. Our project is inclusive of all political actors,” said Swiss Ambassador Maître.

Since its establishment, the OSCE Presence in Albania has worked to promote democratization, the rule of law, and human rights as well as to consolidate democratic institutions in line with OSCE principles, standards and commitments. The support to the parliament is considered a cross-cutting and cross-programmatic endeavour within the OSCE support to Albania, in areas including law-making, legislative reform, parliamentary procedures and capacity building, electoral reform, civic engagement, gender equality and promotion of good governance.

The new project is part of the Swiss Cooperation Strategy for the years 2018-2021. This is the first time Swiss support extends to the highest legislative body in the country. The funding comes from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.