Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha gave the opening remarks, while Prime Minister Edi Rama delivered the keynote speech.

The discussions focused on the challenges posed by foreign information manipulation and interference, as one of the most important hybrid threats to democratic societies, especially at a time when foreign actors use digital platforms, artificial intelligence and coordinated campaigns to influence public debate.

The conference also discussed the new European Union policy framework for this field, including the “European Democracy Shield” and “FIMI Toolbox” initiatives, which aim to strengthen democratic resistance through institutional cooperation, support for independent media, academic research and civil society engagement.

The conference aims to strengthen cooperation between Albanian institutions and international partners to confront manipulation and foreign interference in information, considering information security as a key element for protecting democratic processes and advancing Albania towards European integration. /e.xh/a.f/p.s./

Speaking at the seventh National Conference on the Right to Information, Rama said penalties should apply to the highest responsible authority when the time limits set by the access-to-information law are breached.

Rama referred to the government’s “Transparent Albania” initiative, which aims to centralise public information on a single digital platform to facilitate access for citizens and improve administrative efficiency.

He said the project would require institutions to automatically publish documentation related to their activities, stressing that it was intended to improve internal administrative processes rather than restrict access to information.

“The law is very clear. There are 10 days to respond, and on the 11th day, if there is no response, sanctions must apply,” Rama said.

He added that ministers had been asked to delegate responsibility for access to information to their general secretaries, noting that not all had yet done so.

Rama said sanctions should apply to both ministers and general secretaries, particularly in cases of repeated violations, arguing that penalties would help create a sense of urgency within the administration.

Drawing parallels with previous enforcement measures, he said sanctions had been effective in curbing illegal parking and traffic violations by officials, and could also improve compliance with transparency rules.

/j.p/u.sh/

Present at the Special Parliamentary Commission “On Deepening Reforms for Good Governance, the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption for Albania 2030 in the European Union”, Dhuka said that, “in addition to consulting on sub-legal acts according to the EU, it is also necessary the regulatory assessment of policies”.

Dhuka emphasized the need to assess the impact of policies, before taking legal or policy-making initiatives, since as she put it, “It has to do with the impact on interest groups”.

Dhuka mentioned an example that in the common agricultural policy it is important to conduct a broad economic and social reflection regarding the impacts of this policy on Albanian agriculture, where undoubtedly here interest groups and civil society play a key role, because this change must come from the bottom up, in order to be real and affect the fundamental transformation.

Among other things, she emphasized, there should be expanded the broad information of citizens on the EU.

“We have some means of information such as the EU Corner in some municipalities, the Business House, or transparency programs, but we also aim to create virtual assistants for businesses, while we should discuss whether we should develop new means for information”, Dhuka said.

“We should start expanding broad information on the EU. Citizens, businesses and institutions will also have the rights and obligations in context of being an EU member state”, said Dhuka.

She emphasized that information on the rights and obligations of the EU is important.

According to her, it is important to have the means of guaranteeing rights, because Albanian citizens, as they become EU citizens, will have means of guaranteeing rights at both the national and European levels. /j.p/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in the social media photos of the present-day Tower, i.e. the Albanian “Kulla”, writing that through technology means it is being transformed into a fantastic information center for the ancient city.

“The Venetian tower in Durrës, reborn after the earthquake, is now being transformed through technology into a fantastic information center for the ancient city”, said Rama on social networks.

The Venetian tower, in the heart of Durrës, underwent restoration after the strong earthquake that hit this city in November 2019.

Thanks to the EU4Culture program, the tower “speaks” through multimedia technology programs. Its revitalization will encourage visitors to further explore the unique multiple heritage sites throughout Durres, one of the Balkan’s most ancient settlements. /p.s./

The Albanian Socialist lawmaker has been also nominated as rapporteur on this report and the resolution.

Bushka said in a post on the social media that “PACE decided that a report and a resolution be drafted on the right to freedom of information and the access to the historical documents related to the former authoritarian regimes. The Assembly calls for a European research on these issues and recommendations for the member countries in order to draw the right lessons to avoid repetition of the mistakes of the past.”

The Socialist lawmaker said she felt honoured to have been “unanimously nominated as the PACE Rapporteur on this report and resolution.”

“I am strongly confident that this responsibility will also help us to set best standards and take forward the parliamentary processes we have launched in the Albanian Assembly to ensure full transparency over the former communist- era files to prevent former State Security collaborators from being part of the public and political life in Albania,” Bushka concluded.

/u.sh/

To meet this purpose, the representatives of the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime, the National Bureau of Investigation and the General Directorate of the State Police signed the relevant agreement.

“Aware of the significance of broad co-operation and the need for the exchange of secure and reliable information between investigative structures, prosecution structures and police structures in the fight against corruption and organized crime signed today a tripartite agreement based on the agreement reached between Europol and Albania with the object: “Granting the right of access to the electronic system” SIENA – Secure Application of the Information Exchange Network “,” EUROPOL “, it is stated in the press release of SPAK.

The signing of the Agreement enables the Special Prosecution and the National Bureau of Investigation to gain direct access to the “SIENA” network, as a secure line of communication and exchange of information with EUROPOL, in context of deepening investigations into suspected entities involved in criminal activities under the jurisdiction of the SPAK.

With the signing of the agreement, the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime and the National Bureau of Investigation become important partners with Europol enabling direct access to the Siena database, the exchange of information and its receipt in real-time, in order to increase the effectiveness of criminal investigations by the SPAK, as well as in order to finalize joint operations in the fight against corruption and organized crime./m.m/r.e/p.s./