The EU-funded National Resource Centre for Civil Society in Albania gathered more than 100 representatives from Albanian civil society organisations online to discuss the challenges they are facing. The conference brought together organisations, networks and civil society activists, as well as representatives of state institutions, donors and international organisations.

The EU Ambassador to Albania, Luigi Soreca, was also part of the conference. In his opening remarks he stressed that civil society involvement in policy-making is essential but currently unsatisfactory in Albania, advising that: “Public authorities should ensure the participation of civil society in reform processes. Important efforts are still needed to have effective consultation processes with civil society before legislation is adopted. Consultations that are not done consistently and coherently may compromise the quality of new laws and future steps in the accession process.”

The main issues discussed at the conference related to the development of the sector and its role in policy-making, in the strengthening of democracy and in the country’s socio-economic development.

The National Resource Centre for Civil Society in Albania is an EU-funded platform of information and service provision which contributes to the strengthening of civil society’s capacities to be more effective, transparent, accountable and independent actors. It supports the creation of an enabling environment for civil society, participatory democracy and Albania’s process of integration into the European Union. The initiative is financed by the European Union and is implemented by Partners Albania in partnership with the Albanian Center for Population and Development (ACPD) and the European Movement in Albania (EMA).