Roundtable of the project “Promoting the systematic use of the administrative approach to combat organized crime in Albania”In the framework of the project:
CSDG – Qendra për Studimin e Demokracisë dhe Qeverisjes organized the kick-off roundtable of the project “Promoting the systematic use of the administrative approach to combat organized crime in Albania,” an initiative implemented with the support of Bulgarian Development Aid with the cooperation and engagement of the Посолство на Р България в Тирана/Embassy of Bulgaria in Tirana 🇧🇬.
This project aims to bring attention to a frequently overlooked but essential instrument: the use of non-criminal measures to prevent the infiltration of criminal groups into the economy and public institutions.
By moving away from a reactive, punishment-based approach, the administrative approach seeks to intervene at an earlier stage, through careful administrative decision-making and inter-institutional cooperation, reinforcing the preventive role of public institutions and the oversight of activities that may pose a risk of criminal influence. For this reason, the administrative approach should be treated as a complementary and effective tool that strengthens the penal system and provides broader protection against criminal activity.
During the event, the project’s objectives and components were presented, including the analysis of the legal and institutional framework, the implementation of four regional case studies, the development of training programs for public officials, and the promotion of a coordinated approach between public institutions, civil society, academia, and the media.
The panel featured representatives from state and legislative institutions, including Mr. Denis Deliu, investigative journalist Ms. Aleksandra Bogdani, and civil society actors. The discussion highlighted concrete institutional experiences, practical challenges, and the need for closer coordination to transform this approach into a recognized, institutionalized, and sustainable practice. The remarks of the Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria, H.E. Mr. Ivaylo Kirov, as a key partner in this initiative, emphasized the importance of the administrative approach in European practices and reaffirmed support for raising awareness and strengthening its application in Albania.
At a time when Albania is striving to advance its European integration process, the administrative approach represents not only a functional necessity but also an essential European standard that should be systematically adopted by Albanian institutions as part of comprehensive efforts to strengthen the rule of law and fulfill EU accession commitments.
