TIRANA, Sept 18 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday invited representatives of the judiciary to sit down at a joint working table to address the issue of the magistrates’ salary system, with the aim of finding a sustainable and long-term solution.
Parliament yesterday approved amendments to the Law “On the Status of Judges and Prosecutors in the Republic of Albania,” as amended, addressing the issue of magistrates’ salaries. The legislation was opposed by judicial institutions and the opposition.
In a social media post, Rama said that the solution should provide magistrates with permanent guarantees while also preserving the long-term balance of the state salary structure.
The Prime Minister also emphasized that the meeting will welcome the participation of experts from the Council of Europe, as well as inputs from the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice.
Below is Prime Minister Rama’s full statement:
“I hope and believe that the representatives of the judiciary, starting with the heads of the two councils and, in turn, the heads of the judicial institutions, will accept the invitation to sit down together at a working meeting without delay and address the issue of the magistrates’ salary system, with a view to reaching a sustainable, long-term solution that provides them with permanent guarantees while also safeguarding the overall balance of the state salary structure.
Our meeting will also welcome the participation of experts from the Council of Europe, as well as contributions from the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice.
Albania’s magistrates should not forget that the unprecedented level of independence they have enjoyed, along with salaries that are the highest in the Republic of Albania and among the highest in the region, did not happen by chance. These achievements reflect the commitment of the current governing majority, which seeks not confrontation with the judiciary, but institutional cooperation grounded in mutual respect for independence.
And when disagreements arise, it is our responsibility to address them with wisdom and patience, setting an example of institutional dignity for our citizens and, at the same time, for Albania’s partners.
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