Strengthening the Assembly of Albania in the EU Accession Process (STEP-EU)

The EU‑funded project Strengthening the Albanian Parliament for EU Integration (STEP‑EU) supports Albania’s EU accession by strengthening the Assembly of Albania as a cornerstone of democratic governance. Implemented by International IDEA under the Instrument for Pre‑Accession Assistance (IPA III), it addresses the growing pressures on parliaments as accession negotiations progress and alignment with the EU acquis accelerates.

The project strengthens the Parliament’s legislative, oversight, and representative capacities in a transparent, inclusive, and accountable manner. It supports Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff in improving legislative scrutiny and managing the increasing volume and complexity of EU‑related reforms, while also encouraging cross‑party dialogue and more consensus‑based policymaking.

A core component of the project is stronger engagement between Parliament, civil society, and the media. By improving access to information, supporting structured consultation mechanisms, and building the capacity of external stakeholders, the project promotes a more participatory and transparent legislative process and deepens public understanding of the EU accession process.

Through capacity building, peer exchange with the European Parliament and EU Member State parliaments, advisory support, and innovative public engagement, the action helps prepare the Assembly for its role during accession and for its future responsibilities as the parliament of an EU Member State.