In a letter to Justice Minister Toni Gogu, the organisations welcomed the draft anti-SLAPP law and steps towards stronger safeguards for journalists, media workers, civil society groups and others involved in public participation.

They endorsed provisions covering both domestic and cross-border proceedings, a 60-day deadline for decisions on security and early dismissal of cases, as well as rules on legal costs, compensation and proceedings in third countries.

The groups said the measures were broadly consistent with EU and Council of Europe standards, citing a legal assessment prepared by Council of Europe experts under the joint EU-Council of Europe project “Promoting Freedom of Expression in Albania through Open Dialogue.”

They called for a clearer definition of abusive litigation, arguing that a claim should not necessarily have to be “manifestly unfounded” to qualify as abusive, while retaining that threshold for the early-dismissal mechanism.

The organisations also urged practical guarantees for reimbursement of reasonable defence costs, compensation and sanctions, better access to legal-aid information, systematic monitoring of SLAPP cases, publication of relevant court decisions and training for judges and other officials.

They called for safeguards protecting confidential journalistic sources and anonymous participants in public debate, as well as adequate resources to implement the anti-SLAPP framework.

The groups also urged the Justice Ministry to address the continued criminalisation of defamation and insult, arguing that the possibility of criminal proceedings over speech concerning matters of public interest could undermine the effectiveness of new civil protections against SLAPPs.

Signatories include Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the International Press Institute (IPI), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the SafeJournalists Network, and Albanian organisations including the Albanian Media Council, BIRN Albania, the Albanian Helsinki Committee, the Albanian Media Institute, Faktoje and Citizens Channel.

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