Albania
Current Operations
OSCE Presence in Albania
(OSCE Other Field Activities)
Since: 03/97
More Information
Albania eyes end of political logjam (16.11.2011)
(Source:Balkan Insight)
Albania’s ruling Democrats and the opposition Socialists have reached a deal to extended political consensus for reforms which have been blocked by the two-year political crisis.
OSCE gives Albania two years to reform (09.09.2011)
(Source:Balkan Insight)
The OSCE ambassador in Tirana says Albania has only two years to pass vital legislation before presidential and general elections again consume everyone's attention. … Since the disputed 2009 parliamentary elections Albania political climate has been tense, with violent protests in the street and the opposition in and out of parliament several times.
Albania unable to hold elections, EU admits (20.07.2011)
(Source:EurActiv)
In an unprecedented statement, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle lamented yesterday (19 July) the failures of the Albanian electoral system, urging the EU hopeful to undertake deep parliamentary reform.
Albania court postpones election ruling (07.07.2011)
(Source:Balkan Insight)
Albania’s Electoral College delayed until Thursday a ruling in the disputed mayoral race of Tirana, after the Socialist opposition withdrew one of its two appeals challenging the narrow victory of ruling party candidate Lulzim Basha.
Albania re-evaluates ballots from disputed poll (01.06.2011)
(Source:Balkan Insight)
The Central Electoral Commission has begun a recount of disputed votes from 26 ballot boxes in the Tirana mayoral race at the request of the ruling Democratic Party.
OSCE publishes report on Albanian elections (23.05.2011)
(Source:Southeast European Times)
The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights criticised the Central Elections Commission (CEC) in a report Friday (May 20th) regarding the May 8th local elections.
Albania’s local elections were competitive and transparent, observers say (10.05.2011)
(Source:OSCE)
Albania’s local elections were competitive and transparent, but took place in an environment of high polarization and mistrust between governmental parties and the opposition, international observers … concluded in a statement issued today.
European Parliament to send observes to Albanian elections (25.04.2011)
(Source:Southeast European Times)
The European Parliament (EP) is expected to send a group of observers to monitor the May 8th local elections, media reported on Sunday (April 24th).
OSCE 'under pressure' to draft positive report on Albania election (06.04.2011)
(Source:Balkan Insight)
A member of the OSCE mission for the May 8 elections in Albania has told Balkan Insight that the mission has been advised by two western ambassadors to sugarcoat its report in order to safeguard the country’s stability.
OSCE sounds alarm on Albania’s local elections (10.03.2011)
(Source:Balkan Insight)
A report released on Wednesday by the OSCE raises the alarm that Albania’s upcoming local ballot might be damaged by political maneuvering.
Tens of thousands join anti-government rally in Tirana (20.02.2011)
(Source:Southeast European Times)
Tens of thousands of people gathered on Friday (February 18th) in downtown Tirana for an anti-government demonstration.
EU envoy in Tirana to mediate political crisis (26.01.2011)
(Source:RFE/RL)
A top EU Balkans envoy is in Tirana to mediate the escalating political crisis after the deadly antigovernment protests on January 21.
Election monitors start mission in troubled Albania (19.01.2011)
(Source:Balkan Insigth)
Monitors from the OSCE's Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR, have started a three-day assessment mission in Tirana ahead of May 8 local elections.
New proposal to end political standoff in Albania (24.11.2010)
(Source:Balkan Insight)
Albanian's Socialist opposition leader offers a proposal to end the spat over the 2009 parliamentary elections in a letter to the prime minister, as the country risks its European future over the dispute.
EU concern over political situation in Albania (15.06.2010)
(Source:Balkan Insight)
EU foreign ministers have expressed their concern over the political situation in Albania, where the ruling and opposition parties have not yet found a solution to the political crisis that began almost one year ago.
OSCE sees progress in Albanian elections (23.10.2009)
(Source:Southeast European Times)
Albania met most of the OSCE's recommendations in its June parliamentary elections and has made progress in terms of voter identification and registration, according to an annual report presented by OSCE Ambassador to Tirana Robert Bosch.
Albania completes mine-clearing process (08.10.2009)
(Source:Reliefweb / International)
Deputy Defence Minister Petrit Karabina announced on Thursday (October 8th) that Albania has cleared mines and other unexploded ordnance from its territory. He said the last land mines were removed in early October in the northeastern part of the country.
German Embassy funds mine clearing in Albania (05.10.2009)
(Source:Reliefweb / International)
The German Embassy in Tirana will donate 2.8m euros to Albanian authorities for a mine clearing project, the embassy announced on Friday (October 2nd).
Albania's Socialists refuse to recognise elections results (31.08.2009)
(Source:Southeast European Times / International)
The congress of the Socialist Party (SP) adopted a resolution Saturday (August 29th) stating its refusal to recognise the results of the June 28th parliamentary elections, due to irregularities.
OSCE says elections "best ever" in Albania (23.08.2009)
(Source:Southeast European Times / International)
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Deputy Chairman Wolfgang Grossruck said on Friday (August 21st) that he June 28th general elections were Albania's best ever. Grossruck was in Tirana to meet with Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha, and Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) leader Ilir Meta.
Albanian election commission announces final results (02.08.2009)
(Source:Southeast European Times / International)
The Central Election Commission (CEC) officially confirmed on Saturday (August 1st) the Democratic Party (DP) of Prime Minister Sali Berisha has won the June 28th parliamentary vote. The approval is final and is not subject to any further appeals.
Berisha's party wins poll (28.07.2009)
(Source:Balkan Insight / BiH)
On Monday, prime ministerial incumbent, Sali Berisha's Democratic Party was confirmed as the winner of Albania’s June 28 parliamentary poll, following a lengthy recount process. … The Central Electoral Commission said that Berisha’s right-wing coalition had secured 70 deputies. The left-wing Socialist Party trailed with 65 seats, the Socialist Movement for Integration won four, and Greek Minority Party, PBDNJ, snared one seat.
International observers criticise vote counting (13.07.2009)
(Source:Southeast European Times / International)
The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) criticised on Saturday (July 11th) the vote counting process, following the June 28th parliamentary elections.
Governing party in Albania seeks to assemble a coalition (04.07.2009)
(Source:New York Times / USA)
Nearly a week after parliamentary elections, Albania’s governing Democratic Party began to assemble a coalition government on Saturday, even as the opposition Socialists decried the move as premature. Although the electoral commission is still recounting ballots from some polling places, it declared that Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s Democrats had won enough seats to form a government.
Albania election result in suspense (01.07.2009)
(Source:Balkan Insight / BiH)
With only a hundred ballot boxes still left to be counted, the right-of-centre coalition led by the Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha was running neck-and-neck with the opposition Socialists led by Tirana Mayor Edi Rama on Wednesday in Albania’s tightly fought parliamentary election. The process of counting the last ballot boxes in some areas has moved slowly, blocked by disputes between both camps, which traded accusations of cheating throughout Tuesday.
Albania passes litmus test (30.06.2009)
(Source:ISN Security Watch / Switzerland)
A calm and peaceful parliamentary election on Sunday will boost Albania’s chances to obtain EU candidacy status, observers say, but more effort is needed along the road to the membership.
Improvements in Albania's election process, but violations persist, observers say (29.06.2009)
(Source:OSCE / International)
In a statement issued today, the International Election Observation Mission concluded that Albania's election process demonstrated improvements, but also noted that violations persist. The observers said the elections marked tangible progress with regard to the introduction of new voter registration and identification procedures, and the adoption of an improved legal framework.
US, EU renew calls for fair elections in Albania (21.06.2009)
(Source:Southeast European Times / International)
The United States and the EU on Friday (June 19th) once again called on Albania to hold free and fair elections to boost its chances for closer ties with the West, media reported. In a statement, the US Embassy in Tirana said next week's elections will test the country's ability to comply with democratic standards.
Thousands of observers for Albania poll (08.06.2009)
(Source:Balkan Insight / BiH)
Over 2,500 observers from a network of Albanian NGOs will monitor the June 28 parliamentary elections, seen as a litmus test for the country’s EU aspirations. … The election monitoring network is headed by a series of Tirana-based NGOs, including the Mjaft Movement, the Institute for the Development of Election Systems, the Democratic Culture Foundation, Women for Global Action, the Kombinat Center, KRIIK Albania and others, local media reported on Monday.
US concerned over Albania poll (05.06.2009)
(Source:Balkan Insight / BiH)
The US ambassador in Tirana expressed concern on Thursday about the process of issuing voters new identity cards in order to cast ballots in June 28 parliamentary elections, which will be a crucial litmus test for Albania's EU aspirations. About 760,000 of Albania's three million citizens do not have passports, and will be allowed to cast ballots in the upcoming elections only upon obtaining new identity cards.