Report by the Head of OSCE Presence in Albania: UK statement to the OSCE, September 2024

Ambassador Tarran, welcome to the Permanent Council and thank you for the work of your team over the last year, and for this comprehensive report on the Presence's activities and achievements.

Madam Chair, the United Kingdom and Albania have a strong bilateral relationship. We welcome Albania's progress in strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law, and will continue to be a steadfast supporter of Albania's Euro-Atlantic path.

The UK recognises the busy political context in Albania since the last Report - including the hosting of important regional summits on the Berlin Process and the EU growth plan for the Western Balkans, the start of Albania's tenure as a member of the UN Human Rights Council until 2026, and the upcoming parliamentary elections.

We note positively the OSCE Presence's continued engagement and support to Albania throughout the reporting period, across a wide range of areas in support of the government's reform efforts. This complements well the UK's own bilateral engagement with Albania. The results of a national poll in May 2024, which placed the OSCE Presence among the top three most trusted organisations in Albania, is testament to the high regard in which the work of the OSCE Presence is held in the country.

We particularly applaud the Presence's leading role in democratisation and the support it provides to the Central Election Commission in enhancing electoral process management. It is positive to see that some ODIHR recommendations have been addressed - but as the Presence's report indicates, there is still some way to go. We encourage Albania to implement the remaining ODIHR recommendations accordingly.

The UK welcomes the Presence's continued efforts to improve national capacities in law-enforcement, including border police's detection of document and identity fraud at border crossing points, and in facilitating information exchanges between Albanian police and those in neighbouring countries.

The UK also commends the Presence's continued support to Albania's Ministry of Justice on anti-corruption, including through workshops and training seminars on auditing fraud and misuse of public funds. We similarly welcome the Presence's support to policy development, technical assistance, and research on combating trafficking in human beings - contributing to the adoption in July of the government's new anti-trafficking National Action Plan.

Ambassador Tarran, we support the Presence's continued focus on gender equality, and your work to mainstream a gender perspective in Albania's policymaking. Your report highlights some important initiatives, including your support to parliament in strengthening implementation of the gender quota, and on enhancing capacities of women councillors in Albania's municipalities.

Madam Chair, the OSCE's field operations continue to deliver excellent work, supporting the implementation of our collective OSCE principles and commitments. The continued non-agreement of the 2024 Unified Budget remains an enormous hindrance to the effective running of the OSCE, its institutions and field operations. It is high time that we break the endless impasse over budgets, and ensure that all OSCE institutions are adequately funded to effectively fulfil their mandates.

Ambassador Tarran, thank you for your leadership. We wish you every success over the coming year.

Thank you, Ambassador Tarran. Thank you, Madam Chair.