How would you describe the ongoing reform undertaken at the State Cadastre Agency in Albania?

At the State Cadastre Agency, we have initiated a structural and transformative reform aimed at the modernisation of property administration in Albania. For the first time, we have not focused only on partial improvements, but on addressing the fundamental problems that have accompanied the cadastral system over the years.

Our focus is on building a modern, digitalised and reliable Cadastre through two fundamental processes: complete digitisation of the cadastral archive and the completion of initial (first) property registration throughout the entire territory. These two processes are preconditions for guaranteeing legal certainty of property and delivering higher-quality services to citizens. In this journey, co-operation with European partners has been essential for adopting international best practices and supporting Albania’s integration into the European Union. The results are already visible in the increase of online services, greater transparency and growing public trust in the institution.

From an institutional perspective, what have been some of the main challenges during the institutional reform process, and how has the partnership with the EU and the Council of Europe helped in addressing these difficulties?

Our daily work is accompanied by important challenges related to the legacy of historical property issues, the modernisation of digital infrastructure, and changing the institutional culture towards a more citizen-oriented approach.

Some of the main challenges include the lack of complete archives,            damaged or inaccurate cadastral maps, non-uniform application of standards for property registrations in different periods, , and the completion of transitional property processes such as legalisation, the treatment and registration of old constructions, and the transfer of agricultural land into property ownership.

The partnership with the European Union, the Council of Europe, and other international partners has been valuable in addressing these challenges through technical assistance, exchange of experience, and strengthening the professional capacities of staff.

The Council of Europe, has been a valuable partner for us in this journey in the efforts to strengthen transparency and institutional integrity.

More specifically, could you elaborate on the main areas of cooperation with the Council of Europe? How have these collaborative efforts contributed to the progress of the Cadastre reform?

Co-operation with the Council of Europe has been instrumental in bringing these reforms forward. Specifically, the assistance from the EU and Council of Europe joint “Horizontal Facility” programme has focused on several key areas directly related to improving the functioning of the institution and increasing transparency.

For the first time, a Communication Strategy for the Albanian Cadastre has been drafted, with the support of the programme, accompanied by a concrete action plan. This strategy enables more proactive communication with citizens and engagement with stakeholders, building trust and fostering collaboration with property owners and the general public.

Second, our awareness raising initiative conducted in co-operation with the Council of Europe has achieved great results, helping us to reach many people with valuable information about their rights and obligations as property owners. The informational materials cover the most important processes on property management including registration, legalisation, digitalisation etc., which aim to inform and educate the public.

The upcoming Regional Conference on property rights organised with the support of the EU and Council of Europe, will showcase this partnership. This  initiative aims to create a platform for regional co-operation and exchange of experience on property rights at the regional level .

Such initiatives have helped us enhance our institutional practices and improve the way the institution communicates with citizens, in line with European standards.

Under your leadership, how have European standards and key Council of Europe documents been integrated into the ongoing Cadastre reform?

The Agency has made significant progress in implementing key measures towards efficiency and transparency. This includes completing the digitalisation process, finalising the initial property registration and automating  the services provided by the Cadastre. These are essential aspects of the reform, aligning with European best practices and Council of Europe recommendations.

I want to stress that increasing transparency and reducing human intervention in relevant processes through service automation and the adoption of new technologies (including blockchain) aligns with European standards for the delivery of public services and represents an important step forward in the fight against corruption.  

Last but not least, the drafting of the Integrity Plan and the development of the Anti-Corruption Plan for the State Cadastre, supported by EU are also part of integrating key standards of good governance and anti-corruption efforts in our daily work.

Looking ahead, what is your strategic vision for the further development of the institution? How do you assess the role of the partnership between the SCA and the Council of Europe in supporting these long-term objectives?

Our strategic vision is to build a modern, digitalised and fully reliable Cadastre that guarantees legal certainty for property owners and provides fast and transparent services to all citizens. By 2026 we will have completed the full digitalisation of the cadastral archive and by 2027 the initial registration for the entire territory. By advancing the level of service automation and further improving communication with citizens, the trust in the institution is increased. All these efforts reflect the joint engagement and efforts from all actors in support of our vision: Albanian Cadastre as a modern, transparent and reliable institution, serving the country’s economic and social development. The support from the EU and Council of Europe is helping us to bring forward this vision.