On 24 February 2025, the European Union’s EU4GG Project, in partnership with the Office of the Commissioner for the Right to Information and Protection of Personal Data (IDP), successfully organized the roundtable discussion on “Understanding and Implementation of the Law on Open Data and Reuse of Public Sector Information.”
🔹 The event brought together representatives from the government, public institutions, private sector, the European Union in Albania, the Commissioner for the Right to Information and Protection of Personal Data, and EU4GG experts, to discuss importance of open data and the implementation of Law 33/2022—aligning Albania with European standards on open data and reuse of public sector information, and how open data can enhance transparency, foster innovation, and improve public services in Albania.
📣 Commissioner Besnik Dervishi, in his speech, focused on the importance not only of preserving public data, but also administering and publishing it on the integrated portal opendata.gov.al, as a tool for greater transparency and accountability of public authorities and enterprises. “The amount of public data in our country has increased significantly. When such data is open for reuse, it serves not only to increase transparency, good governance, administrative accountability, scientific research, but also to develop the economy through innovative solutions,” emphasized Mr. Dervishi.
📣 Addressing the event, Mr. Wim Ulens, Programme Manager at the Delegation of the European Union in Albania highlighted that “Access to public information is a core value for the EU and a cornerstone of transparency, accountability, and ultimately – legitimacy of the public sector and government more broadly. By unlocking the value of data and making it accessible, Albania is fostering a more transparent, inclusive, and innovative society”…”The public sector is an important producer and holder of precious and useful data. It is essential that these datasets—generated through public service efforts—are made available to all those who wish to use them, with the necessary safeguards in place.”, said Mr. Ulens.
💡 The EU4GG Project is supporting Albania in its efforts to promote open data and drive innovation. So far, it has been supporting Albania’s open data reform by:
✅ Identification of the novelties from the Law and the obligations deriving from it
✅ Developing a Manual on Open Data Implementation
✅ Conducting a training workshop with IDP staff
✅ Promoting best practices from EU countries on practical implementation
📍 This event was considered a significant step towards a more transparent and data-driven Albania. The implementation of Law 33/2022 will empower institutions, businesses, and citizens to harness the power of open data for social and economic progress.
#EU4GG #OpenData #Transparency #GoodGovernance #European Union in Albania 🇪🇺🇦🇱
