FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
EC message to Rama: If you don't meet the standards, there is no closing of chapters...
The European Union has dealt a strong blow to the new justice institutions. Although the reform has been implemented for nearly 10 years, there are still many problems for Brussels in this regard.
The European Commission has drafted a report on the rule of law, providing an opinion on all justice bodies in the country, including the SPAK, the KLGJ, the KLP, the judiciary and other bodies. The report is still in the consultation phase and has been sent to the bodies in Tirana for their opinion.
For Brussels, the governance of the judiciary and prosecution is not performing properly, thus dealing a strong blow to the High Judicial Council and the High Prosecutorial Council.
“ No significant progress has been made by the HLGJ and the KLP in strengthening transparency on promotions and transfers. The HLGJ lacks the internal rules necessary to exercise its functions effectively, while those of the KLP require review. Both Councils do not have internal regulations on conflicts of interest of their members, leading to potential cases of conflict of interest not being addressed ,” the report states.
Another element they address is the fact that many of those left in the vetting process or who have been excluded from the system are lecturers at the School of Magistrates. For the EC, this is unacceptable.
" The fact that former magistrates who have resigned during the vetting process and are subject to a ban on holding high positions in the judicial system are free to be employed as teaching staff at the School of Magistrates ," the EC states.
Attention has also been paid to political pressures on justice, mentioning the attacks on the organs by Berisha, or even after the arrest of Mayor Veliaj.
“ The investigation and arrest of an elected official, confirmed in February 2025 by the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), triggered unprecedented public reactions from the executive and legislative branches, including attempts to exert pressure on SPAK and justice institutions – which raises serious concerns ,” it says.
The European Commission dedicates a special chapter analyzing the work of SPAK, encouraging it to go further.
“ SPAK continued to consolidate its positive results in the fight against high-level corruption, although some shortcomings remain in terms of staffing and infrastructure. The Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) and the courts against corruption and organized crime have delivered positive results in investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating corruption cases, including those involving politicians and senior officials, as well as in protecting the EU’s financial interests.
SPAK demonstrates a sustainable strategic vision and independence in its contribution to the fight against high-level corruption, despite increased pressure from political parties, organized crime groups and the media. The continuous increase in the workload for SPAK and the lack of staff and infrastructure continue to be issues that need to be addressed. The number of referrals to SPAK from other authorities has further decreased and remains low ,” the report continues.
The “non-paper” states that “ progress in the group of chapters will determine the overall pace of negotiations. This includes in particular the fulfilment of interim benchmarks under chapters 23 and 24. As foreseen by the Negotiating Framework, no chapter can be closed before Albania achieves this objective ”.
Lini një Përgjigje