OSCE Presence organizes study visit to Slovakia for Albanian environment and law enforcement officials

Environment and law enforcement officials from Albania conducted a study visit to Slovakia focused on environmental inspection and investigation of environmental crimes, on 30 and 31 January 2024. The OSCE Presence in Albania organized the visit as part of its efforts to increase national capacities to address environmental governance and security challenges.

During the meetings with Slovak counterparts, the 11-member delegation learned about the domestic and international standards on environmental enforcement and investigation of environmental crime in Slovakia. They also benefitted from the experience and practices of the Slovak Environmental Crime Unit, its police structure of 200 environmental crime police officers and their interinstitutional co-ordination. The delegation was received by officials of the Slovak Police Department for Detection of Hazardous Substances and Environmental Crime, Prosecution Office, Ministry of Environment, Customs Authorities, State Inspectorate and the Ministry of Agriculture of Slovakia.

“Environmental crime legislation approximation is at an advanced stage in Albania. However, its implementation needs a co-ordinated strategic approach among various institutions, as well as capacity and expertise building for officials, and increase of public awareness”, Arta Dollani, Director of National Environmental Agency of Albania, said.

The study visit was part of the OSCE Presence’s project “To enhance environmental governance and security in Albania”, funded by Italy, France and Norway. Last year, the Presence developed and delivered a new curriculum on environmental legislation for the School of Magistrates, and supported a Training Needs Assessment for all institutions dealing with environmental enforcement.