Reply to Recommendation 1217 (1993) on economic assistance to Albania

20 September 1993

Doc. 6929

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

Reply to Recommendation 1217 (1993)

on economic assistance to Albania

(adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 10 September 1993

at the 497th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)

1. The Committee of Ministers has noted with interest Assembly Recommendation 1217 (1993) on economic assistance to Albania, which it has brought to the attention of the Commission of the European Commission in view of its special competence in economic matters.

2. The Assembly's Recommendation enumerates, however, a number of fields of cooperation which correspond with the Council of Europe's generally recognised vocation, namely: democratic constitution-building, human and minority rights, social protection standards, legislation and public administration. In this connection the Committee of Ministers recalls the reply, at the 490th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (March 1993), to Assembly Recommendation 1179 (1992) on the exodus of Albanian nationals. In this reply the Assembly was informed that "Council of Europe assistance to Albania will be intensified in 1993". It also referred to negotiations under way for a joint European Community - Council of Europe programme for Albania with a view to strengthening the respect of Human Rights and the Rule of Law, notably through the training of the legal professions and through assistance in the drafting of the new Civil and Criminal Codes and Procedures.

3. These negotiations with the European Community were concluded in July 1993 and the resulting agreement, to which the Community is contributing 750,000 ECU (4.89 million French francs), completes the action plan for legal assistance and advice which the Council of Europe initiated already in 1991 through its Demosthenes programme. The joint European Community/Council of Europe programme for the promotion of human rights and the Rule of Law in Albania comprises 7 major projects: training of judges, reform of the prison system, training of the police, drafting civil codes and civil procedure, drafting penal codes and penal procedure, functioning of the Ministry of Justice, and reform of the "Prokuratura". Moreover, the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission) is implementing a specific programme for the promotion of democratic institutions in Albania, financed partly by a voluntary contribution, focusing in particular on training judges and law drafters and in improving legal studies in Albania.

4. It is recalled that since December 1992 implementation of these co-operation activities with Albania is facilitated by a Task Force which consists of a number of volunteer staff members who, at the request of the President of Albania, take it in turns to man an office in Tirana to give the Albanian authorities legal assistance. In June 1993, at their 496th meeting, the Ministers' Deputies prolonged the initial 6-month mandate of the Task Force, in the light of the latter's progress report, until the end of 1993.

5. The Committee of Ministers shares the Assembly's hope that this intensified cooperation and assistance programme in the field of democracy, human rights and the rule of law will facilitate Albania's accession to the Council of Europe.