As threats and attacks against journalists in Albania remain a concern, efforts to improve their safety through institutional co-operation and dialogue are gaining momentum. Journalists, prosecutors, police officials, civil society, and international partners gathered in Shkodër for a multi-stakeholder roundtable on “Strengthening Dialogue for Journalist Safety: A Multistakeholder Discussion on Strengthening Safeguards and Protection of Journalists.” The event marked another step in Albania’s ongoing efforts to enhance media freedom.

Opening remarks were delivered by Giulia Re - Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana, Reinout Vos – Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Albania, and Kostaq Beluri – Director in the General Prosecution Office. They highlighted recent progress, such as the appointment of institutional focal points, the development of police protocols, and an order from the General Prosecution giving procedural priority to journalist cases, as concrete outcomes of sustained collaboration. Speakers also acknowledged the persistent challenge of underreporting of threats and attacks against journalists.

Organised by the joint European Union and the Council of Europe action on Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Albania (PRO-FREX), in partnership with the SCiDEV Centre, under the project on the safety of journalists, supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the roundtable emphasised the importance of shared responsibility and dialogue to advance protection of journalists. Building on past activities, the discussion in Shkodër aimed to deepen trust, and co-operation, while reinforcing institutional safeguards to better protect journalists and media workers.

The event continued with an interactive session bringing together voices from the judiciary, law enforcement, and journalists, to discuss practical ways to improve investigations, build mutual trust, and overcome the reluctance of journalists to report threats. Participants argued for the sustainability and institutionalisation of the new safeguards in place, as cornerstones for better protection through co-ordinated, transparent, and responsive mechanisms.

As reiterated by many participants, protecting journalists requires more than legal tools – it demands dialogue, understanding, and collective ownership of the issue. The roundtable concluded with a strong call for sustained multistakeholder engagement to ensure that journalists in Albania can work free from fear and in service of the public interest.

This roundtable was organised by the Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression as part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye.”, in co-operation with SCiDEV. The PRO-FREX action will continue to support Albania’s efforts to advance the safety of journalists by building institutional capacities and fostering inclusive dialogue. The collaboration with SCiDEV and the SafeJournalists Network ensures that civil society perspectives remain central to these efforts.