The public institutions engaged in the field of property rights in Albania took a significant step towards enhancing their expertise, during the two-day Training of Trainers on "Property rights and the execution of court decisions”. The event, organised with the support of EU and Council of Europe, is held against the backdrop of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) emphasis and its important decisions in the field of protection of property rights, as stipulated  under Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Addressing the non-execution of final or non-final court decisions was in the focus of this capacity building aiming to empower pertinent authorities with valuable insights and tools to ensure that rights-holders in Albania enjoy better human rights through improved domestic capacity to enforce property rights and execute the related ECtHR judgments.

The training welcomed high-level representatives from crucial institutions including the State Advocate Office, State Agency of Cadastre, National Inspectorate on the Protection of Territory, Agency of Treatment of Property, and the Ministry of Justice. The overarching goal was to provide Albanian institutions with a comprehensive understanding of ECtHR standards and practices, fostering not only effective execution of existing obligations but also a more unified administrative approach in the future. The anticipated result of the assistance provided to Albanian authorities in the field of property rights is a reduction in the number of cases brought before the ECtHR, contributing to a more streamlined legal landscape.

Participants delved into discussions on ECtHR case law specific to Albania, the domestic legislation concerning property rights, and the roles of institutions involved in safeguarding these rights. The training also explored important decisions made by the Albanian Constitutional Court and Supreme Court related to property rights. Beyond its immediate impact for the participants, this capacity building activity constitutes a crucial investment in the long-term development and effectiveness of key stakeholders in Albania involved in the field of property rights.

This initiative aligns with the action on "Improving the protection of the right to property and facilitating the execution of ECtHR judgments in Albania" under the EU and Council of Europe joint programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye."