Fostering Security in Albania and the Eu’s Role in the Security Sector Reform

Abstract

In today’s world of complex and interdependent security challenges within and across borders, national security sectors need to adapt to fast-changing and unpredictable environments. Experience shows that an accountable, effective and inclusive security sector with full respect for human rights, including gender equality and the rule of law can effectively provide security to a State and its people, while at the same time promoting stability, trust and confidence in the OSCE area and beyond . It is important to first define what we mean by the security sector and security sector reform. The security sector is taken to mean all those organisations which have authority to use, or order the use of force, or threat of force, to protect the state and its citizens, as well as those civil structures that are responsible for their management and oversight. The security sector can therefore be viewed as forming three pillars: a) Groups with a mandate to wield the instruments of violence – military, paramilitaries and police forces; b) Institutions with a role in managing and monitoring the security sector – civilian ministries, parliaments and NGOs; and c) Bodies responsible for guaranteeing the rule of law – the judiciary, the penal system, human rights ombudsmen and, where these bodies are particularly weak, the international community . The overall aim of ‘Security Sector Reform’ is the transformation of security institutions so that they play an effective, legitimate and democratically accountable role in providing external and internal security for their citizens. Transformation of the security sector requires broad consultation and includes goals such as strengthening civilian control and oversight of the security sector; professionalisation of the security forces; demilitarisation and peace-building; and strengthening the rule of law . Security sector reform addresses security problems and tries to improve the situation through institutional reforms. Security and peace are seen as a public good. Society as a whole, as well as its individual members, benefits from an increase in security. Security sector reform must be understood as a broad concept, which also entails a more efficient use of scarce resources to improve security. It seeks to align the contributions of military, diplomatic, development and security actors. Democratic, civilian control over security forces is crucial for the provision of security in the interests of the population. Democratic decision-making requires transparency and accountability. Security sector reform is widely recognised as key to conflict prevention, peace-building, sustainable development and democratisation. Almost all states need to reform their security sectors to a greater or lesser extent, according to the specific security, political and socio-economic contexts, as well as in response to the new security challenges resulting from globalization.

Received: 15 September 2022 / Accepted: 24 October 2022 / Published: 30 November 2022