Legal Frameworks and Public Service Risks in Albania’s Digital Era
Résumé
The digital transformation of public services in Albania has brought significant improvements in efficiency and accessibility but has also raised critical concerns regarding citizens' fundamental rights. This study examines the Albanian legal framework governing digital public services, focusing on its compliance with international standards on data protection, the right to access services, and equality in participation.
In the Albanian context, key risks include the digital exclusion of vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities, due to a lack of digital skills and inadequate infrastructure. Additionally, the absence of effective complaint mechanisms and oversight by relevant authorities has limited accountability and transparency in the implementation of digital services.
By analyzing the practical barriers to accessing public services, this study underscores the urgency of adopting a more inclusive digitalization strategy. It advocates for the integration of alternative access points, enhanced digital literacy programs, and stronger legal safeguards to ensure that the transition to digital public services does not undermine fundamental rights, but rather fosters equitable participation for all citizens.
Références
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2021). Decision no. 701/2021 “On the approval of the National Action Plan for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation of Roma and Egyptians, 2021–2025”, published in Official Gazette no. 186/2021.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2022). Decision no. 370/2022 “On the approval of the Cross-Sectoral Strategy ‘Digital Agenda of Albania’ and the Action Plan 2022–2026”. Official Gazette, no. 84/2022.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2024). Decision no. 782/2024 “On the determination of detailed rules for accessing the official websites of public authorities”. Official Gazette, no. 216/2024.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2022). Decision no. 252, dated 29 April 2022, “On the procedures for the provision of online services by service-providing institutions and the methodology for monitoring and controlling the administrative activity of their delivery”. Official Gazette, no. 66/2022.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2016). Decision no. 640, dated 7 September 2016, “On the transfer of the service counters of the Compulsory Health Care Insurance Fund under the administration of the Agency for the Delivery of Integrated Public Services (ADISA).” Official Gazette, no. 170/2016.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2016). Decision no. 757, dated 26 October 2016, “On the transfer of the reception counters for citizens of the Local Offices for Immovable Property Registration under the administration of the Agency for the Delivery of Integrated Public Services.” Official Gazette, no. 205/2016.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2018). Decision no. 715, dated 5 December 2018, “On the transfer of the counters of the Social Insurance Institute under the administration of the Agency for the Delivery of Integrated Public Services (ADISA).” Official Gazette, no. 174/2018.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2019). Decision no. 639, dated 02.10.2019, “On the transfer of service counters under the administration of the Agency for the Delivery of Integrated Public Services (ADISA)”. Official Gazette, no. 137/2019.
Council of the European Union. (2014). Council conclusions on Albania (General Affairs Council meeting, Luxembourg). Retrieved from https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/21900/143354.pdf.
Council of Europe. (1950/2021). European Convention on Human Rights, as amended by Protocols No. 11, 14, and 15. Rome, 4 November 1950.
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers. (2016). Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)5 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on Internet freedom. Retrieved from: https://search.coe.int/cm/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectId=09000016806415fa.
Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination. (2025). Decisions no. 122, dated 13 May 2025, and no. 96, dated 28 April 2025.
Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination. (2025). Decisions no. 122, dated 13 May 2025, and no. 96, dated 28 April 2025.
Constitutional Court of Albania. (2008 & 2009). Decisions no. 18, dated 29 July 2008, and no. 19, dated 9 July 2009.
Constitutional Court of Albania. (2010 & 2021). Decisions no. 4, dated 12.02.2010, and no. 31, dated 04.10.2021.
Constitutional Court of Albania. (2013–2021). Decisions no. 48, dated 15 November 2013; no. 10, dated 29 February 2016; no. 20, dated 20 April 2021; no. 27, dated 29 June 2021; and no. 31, dated 4 October 2021.
Constitutional Court of Albania. (2009). Decision no. 19, dated 09 July 2009.
Constitutional Court of Albania. (2008 & 2019). Decisions no. 18, dated 29 July 2008, and no. 19, dated 9 July 2019.
Constitutional Court of Albania. (1999 & 2021). Decisions no. 65, dated 10.12.1999, and no. 20, dated 20.04.2021.
Danks, D., & London, A. J. (2017). Algorithmic bias in autonomous systems. In Proceedings of the 26th International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence. AAAI Press.
Defender of Rights. (2022). Dematerialization of public services: Three years later, where are we? Retrieved from: https://www.defenseurdesdroits.fr/rapport-dematerialisation-des-services-publics-trois-ans-apres-ou-en-est-265 .
Duraku, A. (2025). Suggestions for the e-Albania platform – from digitalization to inclusion [LinkedIn post]. Retrieved from: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7300132683689463809-1xp4.
European Commission. (2023). Commission Staff Working Document: Albania 2023 Report (SWD(2023) 690 final). Retrieved from: https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-11/SWD_2023_690%20Albania%20report.pdf.
European Union. (2023). European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade (2023/C 23/01). Official Journal of the European Union, C 23, 1–7. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:JOC_2023_023_R_0001.
European Court of Human Rights. (2016). Kalda v. Estonia (Application No. 17429/10). Retrieved from: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-160270.
European Court of Human Rights. (2011). Ponomaryovi v. Bulgaria (Application No. 5335/05). Retrieved from: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-105295.
European Court of Human Rights. (2000). Thlimmenos v. Greece (Application no. 34369/97). Retrieved from: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-58561.
European Commission. (2023, November 8). Commission Staff Working Document: Albania 2023 Report (SWD(2023) 690 final). Retrieved from: https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-11/SWD_2023_690%20Albania%20report.pdf.
French Constitutional Council. (2009). Decision no. 2009-580 DC of 10 June 2009. Retrieved from: https://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/decision/2009/2009580DC.htm.
German Federal Constitutional Court. (2021). Judgment of 15 June 2021 – BvR 1073/20.
Hellenic Parliament. (2019). The Constitution of Greece: As revised by the parliamentary resolution of November 25, 2019 of the IXth Revisionary Parliament. Retrieved from: https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/f3c70a23-7696-49db-9148 f24dce6a27c8/THE%20CONSTITUTION%20OF%20GREECE.pdf.
Institute of Statistics (INSTAT). (2023). Use of Information and Communication Technology in Households. Retrieved from: https://www.instat.gov.al/media/12854/ict-2023_shqip.pdf.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2021). Law no. 107/2021, “On co-governance.” Official Gazette, no. 197/2021.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2023). Law no. 43/2023, “On electronic governance.” Official Gazette, no. 99/2023.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2016). Law No. 13/2016, “On the manner of providing public services at the service counter in the Republic of Albania.” Official Gazette, No. 37/2016.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2015). Law no. 44/2015: Code of Administrative Procedures of the Republic of Albania. Official Gazette, no. 87/2015.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (1998). Law no. 8417/1998: Constitution of the Republic of Albania. Official Gazette, no. 28/1998.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2019). Law no. 57/2019 “On Social Assistance in the Republic of Albania”, published in Official Gazette no. 113/2019.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2014). Law no. 93/2014 “On Inclusion and Accessibility of Persons with Disabilities”, published in Official Gazette no. 135/2014.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2017). Law no. 96/2017 “On the Protection of National Minorities in the Republic of Albania”, published in Official Gazette no. 196/2017.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2010). Law no. 10221/2010 “On Protection from Discrimination”, published in the Official Gazette no. 15/2010.
United Nations Human Rights Council. (2011, May 16). Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue (A/HRC/17/27). Retrieved from: https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/17session/a.hrc.17.27_en.pdf.
United Nations Human Rights Council. (2011). Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue (A/HRC/17/27). Retrieved from: https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/17session/a.hrc.17.27_en.pdf.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2022). Decision no. 370/2022 “On the approval of the Cross-Sectoral Strategy ‘Digital Agenda of Albania’ and the Action Plan 2022–2026”. Official Gazette, no. 84/2022.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2024). Decision no. 782/2024 “On the determination of detailed rules for accessing the official websites of public authorities”. Official Gazette, no. 216/2024.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2022). Decision no. 252, dated 29 April 2022, “On the procedures for the provision of online services by service-providing institutions and the methodology for monitoring and controlling the administrative activity of their delivery”. Official Gazette, no. 66/2022.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2016). Decision no. 640, dated 7 September 2016, “On the transfer of the service counters of the Compulsory Health Care Insurance Fund under the administration of the Agency for the Delivery of Integrated Public Services (ADISA).” Official Gazette, no. 170/2016.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2016). Decision no. 757, dated 26 October 2016, “On the transfer of the reception counters for citizens of the Local Offices for Immovable Property Registration under the administration of the Agency for the Delivery of Integrated Public Services.” Official Gazette, no. 205/2016.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2018). Decision no. 715, dated 5 December 2018, “On the transfer of the counters of the Social Insurance Institute under the administration of the Agency for the Delivery of Integrated Public Services (ADISA).” Official Gazette, no. 174/2018.
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania. (2019). Decision no. 639, dated 02.10.2019, “On the transfer of service counters under the administration of the Agency for the Delivery of Integrated Public Services (ADISA)”. Official Gazette, no. 137/2019.
Council of the European Union. (2014). Council conclusions on Albania (General Affairs Council meeting, Luxembourg). Retrieved from https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/21900/143354.pdf.
Council of Europe. (1950/2021). European Convention on Human Rights, as amended by Protocols No. 11, 14, and 15. Rome, 4 November 1950.
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers. (2016). Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)5 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on Internet freedom. Retrieved from: https://search.coe.int/cm/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectId=09000016806415fa.
Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination. (2025). Decisions no. 122, dated 13 May 2025, and no. 96, dated 28 April 2025.
Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination. (2025). Decisions no. 122, dated 13 May 2025, and no. 96, dated 28 April 2025.
Constitutional Court of Albania. (2008 & 2009). Decisions no. 18, dated 29 July 2008, and no. 19, dated 9 July 2009.
Constitutional Court of Albania. (2010 & 2021). Decisions no. 4, dated 12.02.2010, and no. 31, dated 04.10.2021.
Constitutional Court of Albania. (2013–2021). Decisions no. 48, dated 15 November 2013; no. 10, dated 29 February 2016; no. 20, dated 20 April 2021; no. 27, dated 29 June 2021; and no. 31, dated 4 October 2021.
Constitutional Court of Albania. (2009). Decision no. 19, dated 09 July 2009.
Constitutional Court of Albania. (2008 & 2019). Decisions no. 18, dated 29 July 2008, and no. 19, dated 9 July 2019.
Constitutional Court of Albania. (1999 & 2021). Decisions no. 65, dated 10.12.1999, and no. 20, dated 20.04.2021.
Danks, D., & London, A. J. (2017). Algorithmic bias in autonomous systems. In Proceedings of the 26th International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence. AAAI Press.
Defender of Rights. (2022). Dematerialization of public services: Three years later, where are we? Retrieved from: https://www.defenseurdesdroits.fr/rapport-dematerialisation-des-services-publics-trois-ans-apres-ou-en-est-265 .
Duraku, A. (2025). Suggestions for the e-Albania platform – from digitalization to inclusion [LinkedIn post]. Retrieved from: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7300132683689463809-1xp4.
European Commission. (2023). Commission Staff Working Document: Albania 2023 Report (SWD(2023) 690 final). Retrieved from: https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-11/SWD_2023_690%20Albania%20report.pdf.
European Union. (2023). European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade (2023/C 23/01). Official Journal of the European Union, C 23, 1–7. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:JOC_2023_023_R_0001.
European Court of Human Rights. (2016). Kalda v. Estonia (Application No. 17429/10). Retrieved from: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-160270.
European Court of Human Rights. (2011). Ponomaryovi v. Bulgaria (Application No. 5335/05). Retrieved from: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-105295.
European Court of Human Rights. (2000). Thlimmenos v. Greece (Application no. 34369/97). Retrieved from: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-58561.
European Commission. (2023, November 8). Commission Staff Working Document: Albania 2023 Report (SWD(2023) 690 final). Retrieved from: https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-11/SWD_2023_690%20Albania%20report.pdf.
French Constitutional Council. (2009). Decision no. 2009-580 DC of 10 June 2009. Retrieved from: https://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/decision/2009/2009580DC.htm.
German Federal Constitutional Court. (2021). Judgment of 15 June 2021 – BvR 1073/20.
Hellenic Parliament. (2019). The Constitution of Greece: As revised by the parliamentary resolution of November 25, 2019 of the IXth Revisionary Parliament. Retrieved from: https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/f3c70a23-7696-49db-9148 f24dce6a27c8/THE%20CONSTITUTION%20OF%20GREECE.pdf.
Institute of Statistics (INSTAT). (2023). Use of Information and Communication Technology in Households. Retrieved from: https://www.instat.gov.al/media/12854/ict-2023_shqip.pdf.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2021). Law no. 107/2021, “On co-governance.” Official Gazette, no. 197/2021.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2023). Law no. 43/2023, “On electronic governance.” Official Gazette, no. 99/2023.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2016). Law No. 13/2016, “On the manner of providing public services at the service counter in the Republic of Albania.” Official Gazette, No. 37/2016.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2015). Law no. 44/2015: Code of Administrative Procedures of the Republic of Albania. Official Gazette, no. 87/2015.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (1998). Law no. 8417/1998: Constitution of the Republic of Albania. Official Gazette, no. 28/1998.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2019). Law no. 57/2019 “On Social Assistance in the Republic of Albania”, published in Official Gazette no. 113/2019.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2014). Law no. 93/2014 “On Inclusion and Accessibility of Persons with Disabilities”, published in Official Gazette no. 135/2014.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2017). Law no. 96/2017 “On the Protection of National Minorities in the Republic of Albania”, published in Official Gazette no. 196/2017.
Parliament of the Republic of Albania. (2010). Law no. 10221/2010 “On Protection from Discrimination”, published in the Official Gazette no. 15/2010.
United Nations Human Rights Council. (2011, May 16). Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue (A/HRC/17/27). Retrieved from: https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/17session/a.hrc.17.27_en.pdf.
United Nations Human Rights Council. (2011). Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue (A/HRC/17/27). Retrieved from: https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/17session/a.hrc.17.27_en.pdf.
Publiée
2025-06-30
Comment citer
Duraku, A. et Terihati, F. (2025) Legal Frameworks and Public Service Risks in Albania’s Digital Era, The Annals of “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati. Legal Sciences. Fascicle XXVI, 8(1). Disponible sur: https://www.gup.ugal.ro/ugaljournals/index.php/als/article/view/8981 (Consulté le: 26août2025).
Numéro
Rubrique
International Law
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