Policy Brief – Beyond Compliance: Building a functional Digital Services Act Framework in Albania, February 2026

This paper, authored by Petra Kováčiková for the European Movement in Albania (EMA), examines the challenges and prerequisites for the effective implementation of the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) in the context of Albania’s EU accession process. It argues that, while Albania is progressing towards alignment of its legal framework with the EU acquis, a persistent implementation gap remains, whereby legislation is formally adopted but often remains weak or ineffective in practice. This risk is particularly relevant for complex, governance-intensive frameworks such as the DSA, where outcomes depend not only on legal transposition but also on institutional capacity, coordination mechanisms, and sustained engagement among regulators, digital platforms, private sector actors, and civil society.

The paper analyses three interlinked dimensions: (i) the structural characteristics of the DSA as an EU regulatory framework, including its layered obligations, differentiated rules for intermediary services, and its system of risk-based governance; (ii) the institutional requirements for implementation in the Albanian context as a candidate country, with particular attention to regulatory readiness, allocation of responsibilities, and the need for independent and well-coordinated oversight bodies; and (iii) the risks of misinterpretation and politicisation of the DSA in emerging regulatory environments, where its complexity may lead to fragmented understanding and weakened institutional neutrality if not addressed from the outset.

Given Albania’s ongoing EU accession trajectory, the paper also draws forward-looking implications for national policymakers and institutions, emphasising the importance of early preparation and clarity in governance design. It highlights that treating the DSA as a purely formal compliance exercise would undermine its core purpose as an operational framework aimed at improving online safety, protecting fundamental rights, and strengthening accountability in the digital ecosystem.

The paper concludes that the success of DSA implementation in Albania will depend on whether the country can move beyond formal alignment toward building a genuinely functional regulatory ecosystem, capable of sustaining independent oversight, coordinated action, and long-term trust in the digital public sphere.

Beyond Compliance: Building a functional Digital Services Act Framework in Albania, February 2026

This material was produced within the project “Building Partnership on Fundamentals: Empowering CSOs for the EU accession process”, with the financial support of the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of the European Movement in Albania and the authors, and does not necessarily reflect the views and positions of the European Union.

The project “Building Partnership on Fundamentals: Empowered CSOs in the EU accession process” is being implemented by the European Movement in Albania (EMA), with the financial support of the European Union – IPA Civil Society Facility 2021, in cooperation with the Academy of European Integration and Negotiations (AIEN), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (SFPA) and the Center for Transparency and Freedom of Information (CTFI).