The Role of Experts in Governance: The Case of Albania in the Context of European Integration

Abstract

The role of experts in governance might strengthen democratic principles as it might risk them as well. However, in the complexity of the nowadays world, taking the right decisions has become complicated. Therefore, there is the need for experts to take decisions in different fields of decision-making. In the context of governance in the public sphere, apart from the experts’ decision-making, it is imperative to uphold democratic principles that ensure a fair representation of the minorities, to safeguard against any adverse impact resulting from experts’ advice or decisions on certain issues. The most developed countries or other supranational entities like the European Union undertake evaluations on the impact that policies have on certain contexts, while developing countries might encounter difficulties despite the achievements in this context. While Albania has made legislative advancements in recent years, further enhancements are expected in the future to improve instruments and mechanisms which will contribute to a soother implementation of these legislative initiatives. In contrast, the European Union has shown a notable reliance on experts in public sector governance and decision-making processes. Although experts in Albania contribute to governance, ongoing debates persist on certain issues. Hence, this article seeks to analyze the role of experts in the Albanian governance, particularly considering the country’s aspirations toward the European Union integration. By examining the implications for democratic principles and effective decision-making processes in the context of experts’ involvement, this study seeks to provide insights for enhancing governance practices in the country’s context of policy making process. Received: 25 December 2023 / Accepted: 25 February 2024 / Published: 23 April 2024