A forum was held on the topic of “The right to information in Albania: decisions of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner” focusing on the handling of institutional activities from the perspective of academic studies. Supported by the Commissioner’s Office, this activity took place within the framework of a joint project of the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF), the Research Expertise from the Academic Diaspora (READ) program, and the Faculty of Law at the University of Tirana. The forum brought together representatives from the academic world, civil society, as well as coordinators for the right to information from central and independent institutions.
In his speech, the Commissioner Mr. Besnik Dervishi appreciated the initiative, emphasizing the importance of promoting projects of this nature in order to enhance the openness of public authorities. “The IDP Office’s activities are guided by the promotion of a culture that respects the rights of citizens as the foundation for a democratic and developed society, accountable and transparent institutions. Any contribution that supports this spirit is welcomed, be it from the academic world, civil society organizations, or interest groups.”
Researchers shared project findings with the attendees, focusing on the institution’s activities regarding the examination of complaints during the period of 2020-2022, particularly highlighting the decision-making process of the Commissioner in creating practices and regulatory standards in this field. In this context, comparative cases from the experience of European Union countries were also presented to the audience. Organized in the form of a roundtable, this forum discussed strengthening the institutional independence of the Commissioner’s Office, promoting proactive transparency of public authorities, and empowering the role of the coordinator for the right to information.