Staff of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner’s Office, together with several of the more experienced Freedom of Information Coordinators, took part in a two-day Training of Trainers held on 9 and 10 November 2026 in Tirana.
Led by two Council of Europe experts, the participants deepened their knowledge of international standards and Albanian legislation, while also developing their skills to pass this knowledge on to other professionals through training activities.
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During the training session entitled “International Standards and National Rules on Access to Information”, international expert Tetyana Oleksiyuk addressed the right to receive information from public authorities and its relationship with freedom of expression.
Referring to the Tromsø and Aarhus Conventions, as well as the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, she explained the circumstances under which access to information may be restricted, how the public interest in disclosure is assessed, and how refusals to disclose information should be reasoned.
Meanwhile, expert Nadia Petro Rusi presented the Albanian legal framework on freedom of expression and the right to information. Through examples drawn from Albanian practice, participants discussed how restrictions on the right to information are applied and how international standards are reflected in the examination of requests for information.
Another session focused on training methodology, exploring how to use real-life cases and practical exercises, and how to tailor training content to the roles of different target groups, ranging from officials handling requests for information to justice professionals, civil society representatives and journalists.
The activity was organised by the Council of Europe Office in Tirana within the framework of the joint European Union and Council of Europe project “Protecting Freedom of Expression and Media in Albania” (PRO-FREX).
