TIRANA, Sept 23 /ATA/ During her first public engagement as Minister of Internal Affairs, Albana Koçiu took part in the presentation of the second phase of the EU4Law project, supported by the European Union, Germany, Italy, and France.
The Minister viewed the project as a strong indication of the collective commitment to strengthening the rule of law, advancing institutional modernization, and bringing Albania closer to the European standards.
At the event attended by ambassadors from countries supporting the program, the EU Ambassador to Tirana, Silvio Gonzato, the Prosecutor General, Olsian Çela, the chief prosecutor of SPAK, Altin Dumani, and representatives of law enforcement agencies, Minister Koçiu stated that EU4Law 2 comes at a crucial moment, as Albania is drafting its national strategic framework against organized crime and serious crimes through to 2030.
“Your steadfast support has been crucial and continues to play a vital role in Albania’s path toward European Union membership. EU4Law represents a key pillar of our collaboration with the EU, aimed at assisting Albania in meeting the interim benchmarks — especially in Chapters 23 and 24 — and reinforcing efforts to combat organized crime and corruption,” Koçiu highlighted.
In the first phase, the project contributed to increasing institutional resilience and the effectiveness of the fight against organized crime and high-level corruption by combining legal harmonization, capacity building, technological innovation, and international cooperation. In the second phase, the objectives are considered ambitious but essential for the country’s future.
“The project will enhance our capacity to investigate complex crimes, with a special focus on financial investigations, asset recovery, cybercrime, the provision of information technology systems, and environmental crime; it will support training and professional development for judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers; and it will equip our law enforcement agencies with modern systems and specialized tools,” emphasized the Minister of Internal Affairs.
This commitment is part of a broader vision for the current mandate.
“A mandate where technology and innovation will qualitatively transform services and standards for citizens, and where the widespread use of intelligent systems and devices will increase safety on the roads and in the digital space. Our policies will place the territory and the citizen at the center, directly responding to their needs. The fight against organized crime and corruption is not only a European obligation — it is, above all, a duty to our citizens, who deserve security, justice, and transparency from their state,” emphasized Minister Koçiu.
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