Albania is aligning with EU regulations through new laws, including a data protection law in 2025 and a new updated electronic communications law, according to Ismailaj & Partners Managing Partner Erinda Ismailaj. With elections on May 11, legislative activity has slowed, creating uncertainties that can lead to a lack of predictability in a business environment.
In the past two months, “several new laws have come into effect in Albania, particularly in December 2024 and January 2025, as part of the country’s ongoing effort to align its legal framework with EU regulations,” Ismailaj points out. “One of the most significant changes is the new data protection law, transposing the GDPR in the Albanian legislation, which was approved in December and officially came into force in January 2025.” She adds that companies are now taking the necessary steps to ensure compliance, “with most provisions set to take effect immediately and some of them, mainly related to privacy by design requirements, are set to take effect in two years to allow businesses enough time to integrate this requirement in their demand processes.”
One major reform introduced by this law, according to Ismailaj, is that “companies providing services in Albania – whether local or foreign – must review their contracts, update policies, assess their activities and their relationships with third parties to ensure compliance with the updated data protection standards.” Additionally, she says, “a notable change is that companies no longer need prior notification to the authority for changes in their processing activities however a privacy impact assessment is now a requirement to be conducted for each activity.” Consequently, Ismailaj highlights that “seeking legal advice is now crucial and not optional, as fines for non-compliance under the new law are significantly higher, aligning with EU GDPR standards.”
“Another key law is the new electronic communications law, that entered into force in late December 2024,” Ismailaj emphasizes. “Companies are actively working to comply with its updated requirements, which include ensuring transparent pricing, clearly defining service terms, and adhering to strict data protection and privacy standards. Additionally, they must invest in infrastructure to enhance service quality and meet cybersecurity obligations.”
In addition to that, “there are two important draft laws that have not yet been enacted,” Ismailaj says. “One concerns intellectual property, aiming to align Albania’s legal framework with EU directives. It introduces stricter procedures for registering trademarks and enhancing trademark protection during administrative procedures. The second draft law still pending is the proposed amendments to the civil procedure code, which aims to enhance the efficiency of the juridical proceedings in Albania.”
Despite a heightened legislative activity, Ismailaj points out, that since Albania is in a pre-election period, “with parliamentary elections set for May 11, legislative activities are slowing down, as no new laws can be passed in the two months leading up to the vote according to the Albanian constitution. This has led to a temporary legislative slowdown, affecting both businesses and regulatory processes.”
“The pre-election period has brought about a certain level of uncertainty, prompting businesses to closely monitor the political landscape, They are paying close attention to whether the ongoing legal framework and proposed reforms will continue to be approved,” Ismailaj adds. “While established companies seem to be adapting well, smaller startups continue to face challenges, particularly in terms of stable infrastructure, funding, securing investors, as well as navigating evolving technology-related laws. The government has introduced policies to support start-ups, but these initiatives are still in their early stages.”
