Green Line – First Workshop Training for Strengthening the Capacities of Civil Society Organizations for Consumer Protection, 14 May 2025

On May 14, 2025, the first Workshop Training on Consumer Protection, was held at the premises of Europe House, organised by the European Movement in Albania (EMA) as part of the project “Green Line for Consumer Protection – Food safety and strengthening the protection of consumer rights in Albania through empowerment of local CSOs”, implemented by ALERT Center in cooperation with EMA. This training is part of a series of sessions aimed at empowering local CSOs, financed by the European Union. The training series will cover not only Tirana but also six other cities across Albania. Its goal is to raise awareness and strengthen the capacities of local organizations and citizens to address issues related to consumer rights and food safety.

The training was opened by moderator Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director of the European Movement in Albania (EMA), who emphasized the importance of identifying the problems that affect consumers and the necessity of increasing public awareness about their rights. He noted that information and education are key steps toward building a society that demands higher standards and effective consumer protection.

Next, Granit Sokolaj, Executive Director of the ALERT Center, explained the concrete objectives of the “Green Line” project. He emphasized that the toll-free number 0800 26 26 is available for citizens to submit their complaints, which are then referred to the relevant institutions for resolution. So far, out of 50 substantiated reported cases, 35 have been resolved, while 7 have been forwarded to the Consumer Protection Commission. Of the 90 calls received in total, most unsubstantiated cases were due to a lack of information or supporting documentation. The most frequent complaints were related to e-commerce, while fewer were registered concerning food safety. Sokolaj highlighted that the Network of Civil Society Organizations for Consumer Protection, which is being established with the participation of 20 organizations, aims to promote cooperation among them to strengthen the role of civil society at the local level, as well as to increase awareness and joint action in the field of food safety and consumer rights protection in Albania.

Ermelinda Muçaj, Project Officer at the European Movement in Albania (EMA), emphasized the importance of the active participation of various stakeholders in the upcoming phases of the project, including the Discussion and Consultation Roundtables organised under the Platform of Partnership for European Integration (PPIE). These roundtables are structured analogously to the chapters of the EU acquis, with this project placing particular emphasis on Chapter 28 (Consumer and Health Protection) and Chapter 12 (Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Policy), which are among the most critical for this sector. She added that the primary goal of each Roundtable is to discuss, examine, and develop positions and recommendations addressed to relevant institutions, the technical secretariat for European integration, and other responsible structures in the European integration process, specifically focusing on the thematic areas being addressed.

Nirvana Deliu, Project Director at the European Movement in Albania (EMA), continued with a theoretical training session, explaining that the provisional closing benchmarks in the EU accession negotiations clearly indicate that there is still much work to be done—particularly in this chapter. She emphasized that the European Commission has intensified its monitoring efforts, introducing weekly reports on the progress of reforms. These now also include monitoring the effective implementation of the Roadmaps on the Rule of Law, the Functioning of Democratic Institutions, and the National Reform Agenda, as part of the new Growth Plan. She also noted that monitoring has specifically increased in the area of the rule of law, thanks to the report published in 2024, which includes not only EU member states but also provides an individual report for each Western Balkan country. Deliu also highlighted the importance of civil society involvement in the Platform of Partnership for European Integration (PPIE), where for each of the 33 negotiation chapters, up to five stakeholder groups can be engaged (including CSOs, the business sector, academia, employee associations, and local government associations). She further explained how interested parties can join as individuals/experts or as representatives of an organization, through public calls issued by the responsible institutions, which detail the application process.

The training continued with Klotilda Neziri, Head of the Consumer Education and Protection Sector at the Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation (MEKI). She began by addressing the consumer–trader relationship, strategic and legal changes from 2008 to 2025, as well as the harmonisation of national legislation with European Union directives. Key topics were covered, such as the prohibition of unfair commercial practices, protection against unfair contract terms, regulation of misleading advertising, and the strengthening of consumer rights in the digital age. Neziri placed particular emphasis on the new Consumer Protection Law, which incorporates the latest EU directives related to digital content, distance services, and the green transition. She also highlighted the implementing institutions, such as the Consumer Protection Commission and the State Market Surveillance Inspectorate, explaining their competencies in monitoring and penalising violations against consumers. The importance of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and the role of local authorities were also underlined, noting that consumers have the right to file complaints with the responsible state administrative structures or with dedicated units within local self-government bodies. She pointed out that the local government database currently includes around 124 representatives from the 61 municipalities across the country. In conclusion, Neziri emphasized the need to strengthen the capacities of consumer organizations, raise public awareness, and improve product safety standards, all in support of aligning with Chapter 28 of the acquis and fulfilling EU integration obligations.

At the end of the training, participants from civil society organizations, academia, the media, and independent experts actively engaged in discussions. They shared concrete cases of consumer rights violations and discussed how these cases could be reported and handled by the relevant institutions. They also commented on the current challenges in law enforcement, the role of implementing institutions, and the need for greater transparency and faster institutional responses to citizen complaints.

**This workshop training took place within the project “Green line for consumer protection – Food safety and strengthening the protection of consumer rights in Albania through the empowerment of local CSOs”, financed by the European Union (IPA III/2024), which is being implemented by the Alert Center in cooperation with the European Movement in Albania (EMA).