For the seventh consecutive year the European Movement in Albania (EMA) research staff has worked with Freedom House to produce a report analysing the progress of Albania in democratization in important areas such as: National Democratic Governance; Electoral Process; Civil Society; Independent Media; Local Democratic Governance; Judicial Framework and Independence; and Corruption.

Albania’s democracy score improved for the first time since 2007, particularly in the sections of Electoral Process and National Democratic Governance. The general elections in June 2013 followed by a peaceful and orderly transfer of power as well as an ambitious reform programme of the new government are among relevant factors that positively affected the ratings.

Nations in Transit 2014 is the 18th edition of Freedom House’s comprehensive, comparative study of democratic development in 29 countries from Central Europe to Eurasia. Nations in Transit 2014 finds that setbacks to democratic governance are the dominant trend across Eurasia and the Balkans, as well as in post-communist Central Europe, where the persistence of clientelism and corruption was in evidence throughout the past year. However, the year also brought some positive developments. Kosovo, Albania, and Georgia received better ratings due to improved elections and peaceful transfers of power.