Albania

Previous reports: 2023/24

Principal EBCO concerns

• It is unclear if and how the provisions on alternative service would apply to an event of emergency mobilisation.

• No recognition of the right to conscientious objection for professional soldiers.

Based on public information and the Ministry of Defence reply to the EBCO Questionnaire:

Developments

In 2024, Albania introduced a law to establish a reserve service. The reserve service will be voluntary and fully integrated with the active military. The reserve force will include up to 25% of the armed forces, or around 2,100 personnel, over the next 5-6 years.²,³ According to the Ministry of Defence, “there are still other legal acts to be in place in order to make it efficient.”

As reported in the Universal Periodic Review chapter, Albania received a recommendation from Costa Rica to “establish conscientious objection to military service for professional soldiers and reservists”. Albania “approved” the recommendation without comment.

Conscription provisions and procedures

Conscription was abolished in 2010 under Law no. 9999 of 2008.

However, Article 166 paragraph 1 of the Constitution still reads, “The Albanian citizens have the duty to participate in the defence of the Republic of Albania, as provided by law.”

It can also be reinstated in time of war under Article 171, “In case of external threat, or when a common defence obligation derives from an international agreement, the Assembly, upon proposal of the President of the Republic, declares the state of war and decides on the state of general or partial mobilisation or demobilisation.”⁴

Conscientious objection provisions and procedures

After the abolition of conscription, no alternative service exists in Albania.

The right to conscientious objection is recognised in Article 166 paragraph 2 of the Constitution, “The citizen, who for reasons of conscience refuses to serve with weapons in the armed forces, is obliged to perform an alternative service, as provided by law.”⁵

Under Law no. 9047 of 2003, applicants for conscientious objection need to submit a request accompanied by documentation that is determined “by order of the Minister of Defence” either to the recruitment centre “before reaching the legal age of call-up for compulsory military service, or to the command of the [military unit], when performing compulsory military service” (article 20). The requests are assessed by an Alternative Service Commission of the Ministry of Defence (article 21). Alternative service can be performed in public service institutions, local government units, non-profit organisations with a humanitarian character, environmental protection services, or firefighting services. Applicants may also choose to perform it in the Armed Forces in positions that do not require carrying or using weapons (article 22).⁶

It is unclear if and how these provisions would apply to an event of reintroduction of compulsory military service. It is also unclear if they apply in the event of emergency mobilisation since the rights enshrined in Article 166 paragraph 2 of the Constitution are not included among the ones that cannot be limited during a state of war or emergency as per Article 175 of the Constitution.⁷

Voluntary recruitment

Since January 2010, a volunteer military service system is established in Albania, governed by Law no. 59 established in 2014 and sublaws.

Any Albanian citizen between the ages of 18 and 30 can apply to join the Armed Forces (age exceptions apply for healthcare personnel). The duration of service after the recruitment phase and completion of the basic course is defined by an initial contract lasting for a period of three years.

Total first-time military recruitment in 2024 is shown in the table below.

Statistics from 2020 and 2021 show that 72% and 76% of recruits respectively, signed up for a second period of voluntary service of the same length or longer.

Conscientious objection during and after military service

Albania does not recognise the right to conscientious objection for professional soldiers and has not reported to the Council of Europe on its implementation of Committee of Ministers Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)4 on human rights of members of the armed forces.

Asylum for conscientious objectors

No information was available.

Militarisation of the education system

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces organise activities in city centers, schools and military units to provide the youth with more knowledge about the Armed Forces.

However, no such programmes are “obligatory for secondary education program,” and the “Armed Forces do not have access to personal data of students.”

1. Population and armed forces figures are derived from The Military Balance 2025, published by the international Institute for Strategic Studies; military expenditure figures are estimates published by SIPRI (The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) in April 2025. ⤴
2. https://www.mod.gov.al/eng/newsroom/1734-government-approves-draft-law-on-reservists-to-serve-as-additional-capacity-alongside-active-armed-forces-in-operations⤴
3. https://www.tirfaxnews.org/2024/12/albanian-parliament-approves-new-reserve-force-law-to-strengthen-military-readiness/⤴
4. https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-REF(2016)064-e⤴
5. Ibid.⤴
6. http://qbz.gov.al/eli/ligj/2003/07/10/9047⤴
7. https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-REF(2016)064-e⤴