Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

Over 60 Albanian legal practitioners representing key justice institutions, including the State Advocate, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court and regular courts, boosted their expertise to protect property rights and support the effective execution of related judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Albania.

The training, delivered in co-operation with the School of Magistrates, focused on deepening  participants' understanding of European Court case-law in property confiscation and freezing decisions. It also aimed to improve their ability to effectively navigate and use the Court's legal resources. Through expert-led presentations, real life-case studies and interactive discussions, the legal practitioners gained practical tools and knowledge to better understand and apply relevant European Court of Human Rights case law on property rights in their work.

Particular attention was given to the enforcement of final domestic decisions and to balancing crime-control objectives with property guarantees in the context of asset investigations, freezing and confiscation measures. Special attention was given to making sure final court decisions are enforced, while balancing the fight against crime with the protection of property rights during asset investigations, freezing, and confiscation.

This initiative forms part of the Council of Europe's continued support to Albanian authorities in ensuring the protection of property rights in Albania through strengthened domestic capacity to enforce property rights and effectively execute related European Court of Human Rights judgments.

The activity was organised within the framework of the Action on  Improving the protection of the right to property and facilitating the execution of ECtHR judgments in Albania (D-REX III). implemented under the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, in cooperation with the School of Magistrates.