This training course aims at enhancing the capabilities of Albanian judges in competition law and economics while fortifying the effectiveness of the Competition Authority of Albania's (CAA) enforcement decisions. Over the period from 2016 to 2021, the number of CAA decisions increased marginally, yet the enforcement remains relatively low, with only nineteen major decisions recorded. This indicates a critical need for judicial training to ensure these decisions are upheld rather than dismissed due to the judiciary's limited understanding of competition law's intricate economic and legal aspects. 

In 2015, the UNCTAD Voluntary Peer Review of competition law and policy in Albania underscored the urgency of such training. It highlighted a significant reform in administrative justice, leading to the establishment of the Administrative Court of Tirana, which, despite its specialization in administrative justice, lacks expertise in competition law. The 2021 EU Report pointed out that while Albania is on its journey towards European Union integration, the enforcement of judicial decisions remains modest, hampered by a shortage of specialized judges, which in turn leads to prolonged court procedures. 

To address these gaps, UNCTAD proposes two focused 2-day training workshops, designed to bridge the technical knowledge in both the legal and economic domains of competition law. These sessions aim to prepare the judiciary not just in national law but also in the nuances of European Union competition law, which is crucial given Albania's ongoing EU integration process. The training curriculum has been developed together with the Albanian Magistrates School and will cover extensive case law, theoretical frameworks, and practical applications pertinent to both national and EU jurisdictions. 

The format of the workshops will be highly interactive, promoting an engaging learning environment that encourages practical exercises and case studies to reinforce theoretical knowledge.