Open Society Foundation for Albania

The Open Society Foundation for Albania (OSFA) prioritized three areas of activity in 2006: strengthening civil society; improving governance and government transparency; and preparing Albania for European integration. The foundation worked with civil society groups to build their capacity in developing relationships with state agencies and other interest groups and increase their ability to monitor reforms, particularly in areas of policymaking, transparency, and independence among the various branches of government. OSFA also helped NGOs draw attention to deficiencies in human rights and the rule of law.

The following briefs describe some of the foundation’s activities and achievements in 2006.

Monitoring Draws Attention to Floundering Roma Strategy

A monitoring report released by OSFA found numerous shortcomings in the implementation of the government’s national Roma strategy. The strategy, which did not include the participation of Roma communities, municipal governments, or NGOs in its creation, was found to have done little to address the massive health, education, and employment disadvantages that Roma face. The report prompted civil society groups to increase monitoring and advocacy efforts.

Civil Society Opposition Derails Flawed New Laws

At an OSFA roundtable, civil society groups reviewed draft laws on anticorruption, nepotism, classified information, and police conduct, and found ambiguities that could be misinterpreted or abused. This information helped get one bill sent back for further review and revision. OSFA-supported human rights groups voiced concerns about two proposed laws that sought to fight corruption but instead infringed on fundamental rights. Albania’s constitutional court overruled one law and sent the other back to parliament for revision.

Project Monitors Politicians’ Campaign Promises

A project checking on promises made during election campaigns revealed that political parties had delivered on only a fraction of their promises. The project, led by the foundation, also reported that Albania had the smallest number of female legislators in Europe. These results were posted on the project’s website, along with legislators’ salaries, attendance records, and legislative voting histories.

Poll Shows Albanians Less Optimistic about Joining EU

An annual public opinion survey, conducted by the Albanian Institute for International Studies and funded by OSFA, revealed increasing pessimism about European Union integration. In 2006, only 40 percent of respondents thought Albania would join the EU in less than a decade, a huge drop from 80 percent a year before.

University Establishes Ethics Code

The University of Elbasan created a code of ethics, with foundation support, for dealing with bribes, gifts, university resources, confidentiality, employment practices, and conduct by faculty, administrators, and students. The ethics code, based on American and European models, gives fair consideration to the interests of all university community members.