New Article 6 has changed the accreditation eligibility criterion for Albanian and foreign non-governmental organisations, as well as international organisations. Previously, accreditation was given to organisations “specialised or engaged in the area of protection of human rights”. The new Article 6 allows accreditation to organisations “specialised or engaged in the area of good governance and democratisation”. It is not clear to what extent, if any, this change will limit the ability of observer groups, both national and international, to obtain accreditation. Since the new accreditation criterion would appear to be narrower in scope, it is possible that this amendment could have a negative impact on the overall transparency of election processes. Should an organisation’s accreditation for observer status be denied in the 2009 elections, which would have been granted under the previous version of the law, then this amendment would have to be considered as a negative change in the legal framework. It is important to apply the provision in a broad manner to consider also organisations specialised in the area of protection of human rights as protecting democratisation. This issue should be followed in the 2009 elections by accredited observer groups.
