Albania: Journalists must have access to Parliament

To:

Mr. Niko Peleshi, Speaker of the Parliament of Albania

Cc:

Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Means of Public Information
Mr. Taulant Balla, Head of the Parliamentary Group of the Socialist Party
Mr. Gazment Bardhi, Head of the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party
Mr. Tedi Blushi, Head of the Parliamentary Group of the Freedom Party

Subject: Concerns over proposals to restrict journalists' access to Parliament

Dear Mr. Peleshi,

We, the SafeJournalists Network, the partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and media freedom organisations in Albania, express our deep concern regarding recent proposals by the parliamentary majority to significantly restrict journalists' access to the Parliament of Albania. Journalists report that if these proposals are implemented, they foresee the abolition of independent filming in the plenary chamber and the replacement of it entirely with a single official feed, as well as the confinement of all interactions between members of parliament and the media to a single designated 'doorstep' space. This would effectively eliminate direct and spontaneous contact between journalists and elected representatives and make accountability voluntary.

Such restrictions would deprive the public of one of the few remaining avenues for holding MPs and ministers accountable. While the protection of MPs' private communications is a legitimate concern, it cannot serve as a pretext for removing independent cameras from the plenary chamber or for barring journalists from approaching MPs in parliamentary spaces. We have previously raised concerns about the media accreditation rulesintroduced by the Parliament in 2021, which already curtailed journalists' freedom of movement inside Parliament and increased reliance on official feeds. Since then we have documented repeated casesof obstruction and a broader pattern of limited access.

In Albania, the broader media environment makes these proposed restrictions even more concerning. Government representatives and majority MPs rarely hold press conferences or appear on independent debate shows, relying instead on curated communication through social media or pre-prepared audiovisual materials produced and distributed by the Media and Information Agency. Delays, refusals, and centralisation already hinder access to public information. Parliament has therefore been the last institutional space where journalists could directly and spontaneously question political representatives. To remove this space would amount to a serious setback for media freedom and democratic accountability.

We therefore urge you, Mr. Speaker, to take the following steps:

• Convene an open dialogue with journalists, media freedom organisations, and stakeholders to revise the parliamentary accreditation system so that it balances privacy with transparency and ensures meaningful access.
• Align accreditation with existing commitments, including the Parliament's Strategic Plan 2025-2030 pledges on transparency, accountability, and constructive relations with the media.
• Ensure clear protocols for the Guard of the Republicto prevent arbitrary obstruction of journalists, as observed in 2024, particularly during moments of political tension.
• Preserve multiple points of access. A doorstep can complement, but must not replace, corridors, lobbies, and courtyard interactions that enable spontaneous questioning.
• Guarantee institutional opennessby maintaining independent filming in addition to official feeds, publishing schedules and all relevant parliamentary information in a timely and accessible manner, strengthening the Parliament's press service, and committing to future consultation with journalists and media freedom organisations before any further changes are made.
• Strengthen transparency in public communicationby instituting regular, journalist-driven media conferences with Parliament, MPs, and ministers, held several times per month.
• Introduce an independent appeals mechanismso that accreditation or access decisions can be challenged quickly and fairly, ensuring equal treatmentof all accredited outlets, including smaller, regional, and online media and new formats of journalistic profession.
• Reaffirm Albania's EU commitments.Parliamentary openness and media freedom are core elements of Cluster 1 in the EU accession negotiations. Upholding these standards will demonstrate Parliament's commitment to transparency and accountability, while restrictive measures would undermine democratic credibility at home and abroad.

We reiterate our commitment to supporting Albanian institutions in improving media freedom and freedom of expression, emphasising that robust protections for journalism and free speech are fundamental to Albania's democratic development and EU integration path.

Signed,

SafeJournalists Network

Association of Journalists of Kosovo

Association of Journalists of Macedonia

BH Journalists Association

Croatian Journalists' Association

Independent Journalists Association of Serbia

Trade Union of Media of Montenegro

Media Freedom Rapid Response

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

ARTICLE 19 Europe

Civil society organisations in Albania

Center Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV)

Association of Journalists of Albania (AJA)

Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC)

Albanian Media Council (KSHM)

Albanian Woman in Audiovisual (AWA)