Ora News – “Alert” by Granit Sokolaj – Consumers, Complains and local CSOs empowerment, 25 July 2025

Invited to the Alert programme on OraNews, moderated by journalist Granit Sokolaj, Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director of the European Movement in Albania (EMA), as a partner of the project “Green line for consumer protection – Food safety and strengthening the protection of consumer rights in Albania through the empowerment of local CSOs”, emphasized the importance of trainings aimed at raising awareness and practical skills regarding consumer rights and the mechanisms for their protection. He underlined that handling consumer complaints is a complex process that often cannot be addressed by a single designated authority. On the contrary, it requires a good understanding of the relevant institutions and the concrete paths to resolving such cases.

In this dynamic phase of aligning Albanian legislation with that of the European Union, where changes are frequent and substantial, Gjipali also drew attention to the necessity for citizens and economic operators to be informed not only about their rights but also about the obligations and responsibilities stemming from the applicable legislation.

The interview also addressed the importance of organising four Discussion and Consultation Roundtables within the framework of the Partnership Platform for European Integration (PPIE), established by the Albanian government to involve various stakeholders in the integration process. Unlike practices in other countries, where such initiatives originate from civil society, this platform represents an institutional initiative that aims to address the need for information and inclusive participation.

Although the ultimate objective, full alignment with European Union standards, is clear, the path toward it remains complex and requires ongoing support, which is provided through the expertise and funding of the European Union, with the aim of assisting stakeholders and ensuring high standards in consumer protection, drawing on the best practices of EU member states.

In this context, the organization of the roundtables in cooperation with the responsible institutions for the negotiation chapters related to Consumer Protection (Chapter 28) and Food Safety (Chapter 12) holds particular importance. These roundtables not only engage non-governmental actors and field experts, but also aim to produce concrete recommendations, which are then shared with the relevant institutions and other actors involved in the process.

Ora News – “Alert” by Granit Sokolaj – Consumers, Complains and local CSOs empowerment, 25 July 2025