The Information and Data Protection Commissioner, Mr. Besnik Dervishi, presented before the Commission for Human Rights and Public Information, the Annual Report of the institution’s activities for the year 2025, informing about the progress of the implementation of the legislation on the right to information and the protection of personal data, the results achieved during the reporting year, as well as the challenges and priorities of the institution within the framework of the European integration process.
During the presentation of the report, the Commissioner emphasized that the year 2025 coincided with an important phase of institutional development, characterized by the entry into force of Law No. 124/2024 “On the Protection of Personal Data”, which harmonizes the Albanian legal framework with the most advanced standards of the European Union in this field. In this context, the Commissioner’s Office fulfilled, within the legal deadlines, the obligation to draft and approve the necessary sub-legal acts for the implementation of the law, a process which has been positively assessed by the European Union institutions as a timely fulfillment and in accordance with European standards for the protection of personal data.
Focusing on the right to information, the Commissioner highlighted the progress achieved in strengthening the proactive transparency of public authorities. During 2025, 367 public authorities were monitored, while the results of the Proactive Transparency Index show an increase in the number of institutions categorized with a high level of transparency. In addition, two new models of Transparency Programs for public authorities and local self-government units were approved, reflecting legal developments, European standards and requirements stemming from the integration process.
The report also highlights the increase in the number of requests for information handled by public authorities and the improvement in the quality of responses given to citizens. During the reporting year, public authorities have handled over 13 thousand requests for information, while the number of complete responses provided to the public has increased significantly, reflecting a developing culture of transparency and institutional accountability.
In the field of personal data protection, the Commissioner noted the intensification of the institution’s supervisory and regulatory activity, in order to guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of individuals and the compliance of personal data processing with national and European standards. Dervishi brought to attention that the Commissioner’s Office has handled 854 complaints during 2025, while it has conducted 93 investigations in total on a complaint basis and ex-officio.
Also, according to the Commissioner, the Office has continued to play an active role in the European integration process and in international forums on transparency and data protection, representing Albania in the main European and global organizations in the fields.
Analyzing the challenges identified during the reporting year, the Commissioner emphasized that the digital transformation, the increasingly widespread use of new technologies and the increase in the volume of personal data processing require further strengthening of institutional capacities. According to him, the challenges are related not only to the increase in awareness and compliance of public authorities and private entities with the legislation in force, but also to the need for continuous investments in information security, technological infrastructure and specialized human resources.
In this regard, Commissioner Dervishi underlined that the expansion of the powers of the Commissioner’s Office, especially after the entry into force of the new law on the protection of personal data, has brought about a significant increase in the supervisory responsibilities of the Commissioner’s Office. For this reason, he highlighted the need to further strengthen professional capacities, increase the number of specialists, improve technological infrastructure and ensure adequate financial resources, as necessary conditions for the effective fulfillment of the institution’s mandate and the obligations arising from the European integration process.
In conclusion, the Commissioner reiterated that the right to information and the protection of personal data remain two fundamental pillars of democracy and the rule of law, underlining that strengthening standards of transparency, accountability and data protection constitutes a permanent objective in order to protect citizens’ rights and consolidate democratic institutions in the country.
To access the full report of the Commissioner’s Office, click on the link https://idp.al/en/annual-reports/#flipbook-df_28253/1/
