TIRANA, May 18/ATA/ Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Michel Tarran appreciated today that Albania has made further strides toward aligning its media landscape with international standards by enforcing stricter rules on media ownership transparency.
Tarran addressed the Conference on Media in Southeast Europe, which is taking place today in Tirana, organized by the OSCE Representative on Media Freedom and attended by journalists, media experts, regulators, representatives of civil society organizations, policymakers and OSCE representatives from across the region.
Ambassador Tarran highlighted that public information landscapes across Europe and beyond are undergoing profound and rapid transformations. Noting that these are transnational rather than strictly domestic issues, he stressed that a collective response is essential, as no single institution can successfully navigate these regional challenges alone.
Ambassador Tarran noted the mandate of the OSCE Presence in Albania to uphold a free, fact-based media environment. He described the State Police’s new dedicated contact point for journalists and recent legal reforms as vital progress. Moving forward, he urged the relevant authorities to maintain close collaboration and ensure all cases affecting journalists are investigated promptly and effectively.
Ambassador Tarran praised recent efforts to modernize Albania’s media sector, noting advancements in regulatory frameworks and governance. He highlighted the new, stricter media ownership transparency rules and expressed his confidence that the Audiovisual Media Authority will fairly enforce them.
According to the ambassador, Albania’s media community is small but highly active and crucial to public debate. Still, he warned that serious challenges persist, ranging from journalists’ safety and economic instability to online intimidation and smear campaigns. He called for continued efforts to boost transparency, protect editorial independence, and enforce legal safeguards, empowering journalists to report accurately and ethically.
Consequently, Tarran stressed that the sustained collaboration of all stakeholders is vital to resolving these challenges in a manner that upholds Albania’s democratic commitments and international standards. He reaffirmed that the OSCE Presence remains dedicated to fostering a more robust and resilient media environment.
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