The Council of Europe Leadership Academy Programme (LAP) successfully conducted three stages between September and December 2023, engaging 60 newly elected local representatives. Throughout these stages, discussions with mayors, deputy mayors, and senior officials covered pivotal aspects of effective local governance. Topics ranged from leadership styles, ethics, and integrity to strategic management, performance evaluation, the complexities of local governance, citizen participation, and the Council of Europe's 12 Principles of Good Governance.

In their closing reflections in the final stage in the first week of December 2023, participants expressed a strong commitment to implementing the discussed concepts within their municipalities. Additionally, they pledged to share the acquired knowledge, ideas, and insights with their colleagues. Recognising the programme's interactive nature and networking opportunities within Local Government Units, participants emphasised the ongoing necessity for similar capacity-building activities tailored specifically to the local level.

This programme was addressed by the newly appointed Minister of State for Local Government, Arbjan Mazniku, in its first stage, the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana, Giulia Re, and the First Secretary of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Iven Schad, all underlining the importance of building and strengthening the local level network and enhancing collaboration among peers.

The Leadership Academy programme has been implemented in collaboration with the Agency for the Support of Local Self Government and the Albanian School of Public Administration, in view of the Council of Europe project Sustaining Public Administration Reform at Local Level in Albania, funded by the Federal Republic of Germany.