The Ombudsmen of Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia signed a memorandum of cooperation today in Prizren. The agreement aims to strengthen and protect citizens’ rights across borders.
First, the heads of the institutions committed to turning cooperation into real benefits for citizens in all three countries. They emphasized practical protection of rights, not only formal agreements.
In addition, Albanian Ombudsman Endrit Shabani met with his counterparts Naim Qelaj and Faton Selami. Together, they pledged closer coordination on cross-border issues affecting daily life.
Moreover, Shabani stressed the gap between legal frameworks and real-life implementation. He pointed out that governments have already adopted many facilitating measures, but their enforcement remains inconsistent.
For example, he asked whether a citizen from Kukës can truly receive medical care in Prizren. He also questioned whether Kosovar tourists are properly treated on the Albanian coast. As a result, he said the new memorandum will help ensure real protection for every citizen.
Furthermore, the agreement focuses on several key cross-border issues. These include healthcare access in all three countries, mutual recognition of civil and family documents, and recognition of diplomas.
In addition, it addresses the rights of seasonal workers. It also strengthens protection for vulnerable groups, including children in street situations.
At the same time, the three institutions agreed to better handle individual cases involving more than one country. This will improve coordination and response efficiency.
Finally, the Ombudsmen will publish a joint annual declaration on the state of human rights in the region. The cooperation takes place within the framework of the Association of Ombudsmen of the Mediterranean, led by Endrit Shabani, with participation from Kosovo and North Macedonia.
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