History And Competencies
The existence of national minorities in Albania is both a historical and current reality, to which special attention has been devoted in order to foster good relations characterized by tolerance, coexistence, and mutual understanding between members of the respective minorities and the rest of the population. This care, cultivated within the mentality of Albanian society—with diversity elements seen as an important part of cultural heritage—has resulted in a harmonious and tolerant coexistence.
Albania’s membership in a number of international organizations and bodies operating in the field of human rights protection, as well as the ratification or signing of a considerable number of international instruments aimed at the recognition and protection of human rights—particularly with reference to national minorities—reflects a serious institutional commitment. Since July 13, 1995, Albania has been a member state of the Council of Europe. A very important instrument for the recognition and protection of minority rights is is the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
A landmark action in recognizing and protecting minority rights was Albania’s signing of the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities on June 29, 1995. It was ratified by the Albanian Parliament with Law No. 8496 on June 3, 1999, with instruments of ratification deposited on September 28, 1999, and the convention entered into force on January 1, 2000
Positive developments have also been noted in the context of fulfilling the requirements of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and the ongoing process for the country’s accession to the EU, while a significant institutional step can be considered the establishment of the State Committee for Minorities by Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 127, dated 11.03.2004 “On the Establishment of the State Committee for Minorities”, created for the protection of the rights of national minorities in the Republic of Albania. Based on this Decision, from 2004 to 2017, the Republic of Albania officially recognized the national ethnic minorities, which included the Greek minority, the Macedonian minority, and the Serbo-Montenegrin minority, as well as ethno-linguistic minorities, which included the Vlach minority and the Roma minority.
The Committee on National Minorities was established by Law No. 96/2017 “On the Protection of National Minorities in the Republic of Albania”. The Committee’s purpose is to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights and interests of national minorities in the Republic of Albania. It is a central institution under the authority of the Prime Minister and is composed of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson, and 9 members (one member for each minority officially recognized by the Republic of Albania).
National minorities in the Republic of Albania are the Greek, Macedonian, Aromanian, Roma, Egyptian, Montenegrin, Bosniak, Serbian, and Bulgarian minorities.
The Committee on National Minorities is a consultative body to the government regarding issues and challenges related to the rights of national minorities in Albania. The Committee has the right to propose to state authorities matters of special importance for the minorities, especially concerning the implementation of constitutional obligations, as well as other specific acts regulating the rights and freedoms of persons belonging to these minorities. It also has the right to propose to central and local government bodies possible and concrete measures to improve the level of rights of national minorities.
History And Competencies
The existence of national minorities in Albania is both a historical and current reality, to which special attention has been devoted in order to foster good relations characterized by tolerance, coexistence, and mutual understanding between members of the respective minorities and the rest of the population. This care, cultivated within the mentality of Albanian society—with diversity elements seen as an important part of cultural heritage—has resulted in a harmonious and tolerant coexistence.
Albania’s membership in a number of international organizations and bodies operating in the field of human rights protection, as well as the ratification or signing of a considerable number of international instruments aimed at the recognition and protection of human rights—particularly with reference to national minorities—reflects a serious institutional commitment. Since July 13, 1995, Albania has been a member state of the Council of Europe. A very important instrument for the recognition and protection of minority rights is is the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
A landmark action in recognizing and protecting minority rights was Albania’s signing of the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities on June 29, 1995. It was ratified by the Albanian Parliament with Law No. 8496 on June 3, 1999, with instruments of ratification deposited on September 28, 1999, and the convention entered into force on January 1, 2000
Positive developments have also been noted in the context of fulfilling the requirements of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and the ongoing process for the country’s accession to the EU, while a significant institutional step can be considered the establishment of the State Committee for Minorities by Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 127, dated 11.03.2004 “On the Establishment of the State Committee for Minorities”, created for the protection of the rights of national minorities in the Republic of Albania. Based on this Decision, from 2004 to 2017, the Republic of Albania officially recognized the national ethnic minorities, which included the Greek minority, the Macedonian minority, and the Serbo-Montenegrin minority, as well as ethno-linguistic minorities, which included the Vlach minority and the Roma minority.
The Committee on National Minorities was established by Law No. 96/2017 “On the Protection of National Minorities in the Republic of Albania”. The Committee’s purpose is to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights and interests of national minorities in the Republic of Albania. It is a central institution under the authority of the Prime Minister and is composed of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson, and 9 members (one member for each minority officially recognized by the Republic of Albania).
National minorities in the Republic of Albania are the Greek, Macedonian, Aromanian, Roma, Egyptian, Montenegrin, Bosniak, Serbian, and Bulgarian minorities.
The Committee on National Minorities is a consultative body to the government regarding issues and challenges related to the rights of national minorities in Albania. The Committee has the right to propose to state authorities matters of special importance for the minorities, especially concerning the implementation of constitutional obligations, as well as other specific acts regulating the rights and freedoms of persons belonging to these minorities. It also has the right to propose to central and local government bodies possible and concrete measures to improve the level of rights of national minorities.
EN 
SQ 
