TIRANA/PRISTINA – The Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community held two dedicated workshops on 15 and 16 April 2026 in Tirana and Prishtina, helping Albania and Kosovo advance preparations for setting up National Bodies and National Access Points for Intelligent Transport Systems.
Organised under the title Setting Up National Bodies and National Access Points: Roles, Data and Implementation, the workshops brought together public institutions and experts to turn EU ITS requirements into practical steps for implementation. The events also supported the delivery of the EU Growth Plan, with a focus on institutional readiness, data governance and interoperability.
“The workshops held in Tirana and Pristina provided a focused platform for advancing the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in line with EU legislation. By strengthening the capacities of local stakeholders and fostering knowledge exchange, the sessions supported the alignment with EU standards while enhancing institutional readiness. These efforts contribute directly to the effective implementation of actions under the Growth Plan Agenda, promoting smarter, safer, and more integrated transport systems across the region,” Ms Nerejda Hoxa, Road Coordinator at the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community, pointed out.
The programme opened with a discussion on the link between the EU ITS legal framework, delegated regulations, and the obligations related to National Bodies and National Access Points. Participants were also briefed on the latest developments in Albania and Kosovo.
A strong emphasis was placed on interactive work. Through group sessions, participants mapped the institutions already involved in ITS-related activities, reviewed existing mandates, and identified legal, organisational and technical gaps. They also looked at overlaps in responsibilities and proposed both quick wins and longer-term structural solutions.
The workshops then moved to the practical design of National Bodies, including their core functions, resource needs and institutional responsibilities. Drawing on examples from EU Member States, participants assessed how ready their institutions are to establish these structures, using a traffic-light method to highlight areas requiring immediate attention.
A separate part of the agenda focused on National Access Points, covering data categories and standards, priority datasets, ownership of existing data, gaps and duplication, as well as possible hosting models. Participants also discussed implementation measures, estimated costs and the institutional and technical conditions needed to make NAPs operational.
The final sessions focused on capacity-building needs, including legal, IT and data-governance skills, staffing requirements, and short- to medium-term milestones. Discussions also highlighted key dependencies such as legal acts, procurement procedures and budget approval.
By combining legal guidance, practical case studies and group-based assessments, the two workshops offered authorities of Albania and Kosovo a clearer picture of what is needed to move from planning to implementation in line with EU ITS requirements.
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* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence
