Albania signs the 2019 Judgments Convention

On 12 September 2024, Ms Evi Naku, Head of Cabinet of the Minister of Justice, signed, on behalf of the Republic of Albania, the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (2019 Judgments Convention).

The 2019 Judgments Convention will enter into force for the Republic of Albania only after it deposits an instrument of ratification (pursuant to Art. 28(2) of the Convention). Currently, 30 HCCH Members are either bound by the Convention or a Contracting Party for which the Convention has not entered into force yet (United Kingdom and Uruguay). More information on this Convention is available on the Judgments Section of the HCCH website.

At the ceremony, which was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, depositary of the HCCH Conventions, Ms Evi Naku was accompanied by Ms Diana Stillo Sila, Head of International Treaties Unit at the Ministry of Justice, Ms Aida Gugu Bushati, Legal Expert on Private International Law, Academic at the School of Magistrates, His Excellency Mr Artur Kuko, Ambassador of Albania to the Netherlands, and Ms Eva Nastas, Counsellor at the Embassy of Albania.

On behalf of the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC), the ceremony was attended by Ms Kardelen Akkus, Shiraka & Matra Advisor, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy of the Netherlands, Mr Jos Uitdehaag, Lead Expert, Balkan Enforcement Strengthening Project (BESp), and Ms Zlaty Mihailova, Senior Expert and Project Manager of BESp.

The depositary was represented by Mr Rieks Boekholt, acting Head of the Treaties Division, and Mr Stephan Hessels, Legal Officer at the Treaties Division, while the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH was represented by Ms Melissa Ford, Secretary (Diplomat Lawyer) and Head of the Transnational Litigation and Apostille Division.

Albania has been a Member of the HCCH since 2002 and is now a Contracting Party to 16 HCCH Conventions and instruments.