TIRANA, June 29/ ATA /- The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini and the Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn stated for the the daily newspaper “Panorama” that Albania is on an irreversible path towards European Union.
Albania’s judicial system has made good progress in the past year, notably through the adoption of a set of constitutional amendments that paved the way for comprehensive and thorough justice reform.
This work followed an intensive process of public consultation and close cooperation with the European Commission for democracy through law (Venice Commission) at the Council of Europe, which adopted an opinion on the constitutional changes.
A law on the re-evaluation of judges, prosecutors and legal advisors was adopted.
As part of measures to fight corruption and re-establish public trust in the judiciary, the law provides for the re-evaluation (vetting) based on 3 criteria: integrity through assets assessment, background assessment (inappropriate links with organized crime) and professional competence.
Moreover, a set of organic laws, identified by the Albanian legislator as priority for the implementation of justice reform, were adopted.
These regulate overall organization of the judiciary, the prosecution office, status of judges and prosecutors, Constitutional Court creation of specialised institutions for the fight against organized crime and anti-corruption. In addition to this legislative package, preparations for other 40 laws and by-laws relevant for justice reform are ongoing.
Constitutional amendments were unanimously approved to enable a judicial reform package in 2016.
“The Commission has already started the necessary preparatory work for negotiations in June 2019. Everyone has a role in this historical process. All political groups and parties, local authorities and civil society should work together more than ever to prepare for opening membership negotiations and take full responsibility for this process. The doors of the European Union are open. Albania’s path to the European Union has become irreversible,” they said. //a.i/
