Berlin, June 25, 2025 – At the end of the three-day proceedings of the International Conference of Commissioners for the Right to Information (ICIC), held in Berlin, Albania has been unanimously elected to lead the Presidency of this forum for the period 2025–2027.
The election of Albania to this important international role constitutes a clear recognition of the commitment and professionalism of the institution of the Commissioner for the Right to Information and Personal Data Protection. In his closing remarks, Commissioner Besnik Dervishi expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him by the members of the forum:
“First of all, I would like to deeply thank you for trusting us again to continue as the Presidency and Secretariat for the period 2025 – 2027. We have shared challenges and experiences, identified common objectives, and reconfirmed the indisputable role that the right to information plays in building open and sustainable societies.”
The ICIC Conference, which was held from 23 to 25 June 2025, brought together representatives of independent institutions, civil society organisations and experts from around the world in Berlin to discuss key issues related to transparency, accountability and access to public information.
The main theme of this year’s edition was “Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age”, emphasizing the need for accurate and timely information on environmental issues, in an era when technology has transformed the way citizens receive and use public information.
The conference program included numerous thematic panels on:
- the role of technology in improving transparency;
- Commissioners’ challenges in ensuring access to environmental information;
- involving civil society and sharing good practices among counterpart institutions.
In the framework of the conference, Commissioner Dervishi also held a bilateral meeting with the German Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, Ms. Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider. The two counterparts praised the positive relations between the respective institutions and expressed their readiness to strengthen cooperation in the areas of transparency and data protection.
The closing sessions of the conference, where the latest developments in the field of the right to information were discussed by continent, administrative issues such as the selection of the host country for the next conference in 2027 were addressed, the conclusions of the working groups were presented, and the results of the vote for the Presidency of ICIC 2025-2027 were announced, were moderated by Ms. Elona Hoxhaj, Director General of the Right to Information.
Also, at the end of the conference, it was decided that Canada would be the host country of the next edition of the ICIC Conference in 2027.
Albania’s election to lead ICIC confirms our country’s growing role in the international arena as well as the consolidation of transparency and good governance.
