Click here to read the news in Slovenian language
Strengthening democratic institutions is of utmost importance for Albania as a candidate country for EU membership. This process also includes elections and the electoral system, which are one of the cornerstones of democratic development and the rule of law. Transparency is crucial for the credibility of the elections. Due to the deficit in this area, further efforts are needed in Albania to support election management authorities and all other stakeholders such as citizens, NGOs, etc. A transparent electoral procedure is one in which the entire electoral process, including the announcement of results, is open to the control of stakeholders, political parties, election observers and voters who can independently verify whether the procedure is carried out in accordance with the procedures and there were no irregularities. Ensuring the transparency of elections helps to build trust and public confidence in the process, as voters have the means to verify the results, which are a precise reflection of people’s will. The efforts of the Albanian side for the reform of electoral law and the professionalization of the electoral administration are important elements of the entire process of advancement on the path to European integration.
The project relies on work already done in the years 2015-16 and is carried out in cooperation with the Albanian Central Electoral Commission and non-governmental organizations.
Project is focusing on the niche of the transparency of the elections and will provide Slovenian and other experiences in this field. Through the education of key actors, the project will contribute to the professionalization of the electoral administration before the Albanian local elections, which will take place on June 30th. A three (3) day workshop will be held between March 26-28, and in cooperation with Albanian NGOs the provision of transparency in local elections will be monitored. On this base the recommendations will be made to ensure further transparency of elections.
The project is part of the program activities that are carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and is financed from the funds of International Development Cooperation.