Malaj said that during the meeting, the parties shared the commitment to increase cooperation between institutions to further strengthen the role of internal audit, also within the framework of the integration process.

The minister lauded IIA Global for its vital role in harmonizing standards, elevating best practices, and enhancing public sector internal audit capacities. /e.xh/j.p/r.e/p.s./

The delegation was composed by Deputy Auditor General Orhan Ademi, Advisor Tanja Janevska and Auditor Hristina Dabeska.

During the meeting, Shehu and Acevski evaluated the cooperation so far between the two supreme audit institutions, emphasizing the significance of promoting partnership and professional exchange.

Both leaders underlined that parallel audits remain one of the most effective forms of cooperation, as they address topics of high public sensitivity and direct impact on the functioning of institutions and services for citizens.

Representatives of both institutions expressed their commitment to continue with joint projects and expand them, with the aim of increasing transparency and accountability in public administration. /r.e/p.s./

Shehu said that, “His office has conducted a total of 159 audits in public institutions, which include financial, compliance, performance, IT systems, combined, thematic and verification audits. And it has made 13 denouncements”.

According to him, at the end of the audits, there were given 194 opinions and conclusions.

Further on, Shehu said that the audits were accompanied by 4378 recommendations, including 2594 organizational measures, 28 legal improvements, 1059 disciplinary and administrative measures, 184 measures on economic damage and 513 for addressing irregularities with a negative financial effect.

In regard to verification of implementation of the 2023 audit recommendations, Shehu said that it resulted that about 70% of them have been fully implemented, partially implemented or are in the process, while the acceptance level remains 99%.

Head of the Audit Office guaranteed that the MPs will be informed immediately.

Shehu also said that his Office is in the process of auditing Bankers Petrolium for the Thumanë-Kashar route and the energy ships in Vlora. /k.s/p.s./

Addressing a party event in Tirana, opposition leader underlined that “cleaning the house”, the fight against corruption is at the core of the DP program, pledging that a centre-right government after the May 11 elections “will launch an audit system to go after every single penny stolen from the citizens.”

DP leader also pledged to reform the country’s justice system through the assistance from the Venice Commission and allies.

According to him, “Albanian political justice poses major threat to the nation’s present and future.”

“Albania can never be a country where the rule of law prevails, it can never become a reliable country for foreign investors if justice system fails to work based on the international principles, it justice system fails to be free and independent,” Berisha stated.

He promised to seek judicial independence through the Venice Commission.

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Reporting before lawmakers at a hearing of the Parliamentary Committee on Economy, Socialist Party MP Erion Braçe urged the State Audit institution to carry out a complete audit of the agreement as contract with the oil and gas company is nearing completion.

“Based on the findings of the Supreme State Audit, confirmed later by the General Directorate of the Tax Administration, Bankers Petroleum has accumulated significant outstanding debt. However, the company referred the case to the International Arbitration. An arbitration ruling has now been delivered. The agreement should be part of the audit process, so that we can receive what we are entitled to under the Arbitration Court ruling,” Braçe said.

On his part, the Head of the Audit Institution said that audit actions will be launched soon and all the findings will be made available to the Parliamentary Committee on Economy.

He added that the audit will also assess the degree of oil exploration-related damages to the area.

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In a statement to the media, Tabaku said that, “The Democratic Party is determined to bring the whole file to the SPAK and in every other way we try to bring to justice all those responsible who are part of this structured criminal group.”

“Although Lefter Koka is in prison today, the incinerator in Fier, which is a crime scene, continues every day to receive payments from the state budget. But, while the biggest corruption scandal, as the latest report of the State Supreme Audit says, which has not been made public yet, but has certainly been made available to the opposition and all factors, shows that the citizens of Tirana since 2018 are paying twice for a non-existent incinerator in the Sharra area “, stressed Tabaku.

Although, continued Tabaku, the incinerator is one of the least desirable ways in terms of waste management, so says State Supreme Audit, has been taken as a winning contract for Tirana and is being implemented.

Meanwhile, she added, in regard to the Sharra Landfill, the costs of 1.5 million Euros have increased to 1 billion Euros, which means that today we pay services 10 times higher at the cost of almost 8 million Euros.

According to the data, Tabaku emphasized, the municipality of Tirana has difficulties to pay this contract.

“So far, in what should have been the Incinerator of Tirana, the State Supreme Audit report says that although a very, very large amount, about 80 million Euros, has been paid, only 2 of the 9 lots provided have been completed. Therefore, today the citizens of Tirana are not receiving the incineration service and this is the highest violation identified by this report. This is the reason why I believe that they have decided to become a political shield for the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on Incinerators not allowing us to go to the end of this affair “, said Tabaku./k.s/j.p/p.s./

“The State Supreme Audit, in the capacity of the highest public external audit institution, had planned a total of 143 audits for 2020, the audit work continued for the preparation of 145 audit reports, of which 73 audit missions were not realized as a result of the circumstances caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic “, he said.

According to him, the institutions where audit missions were exercised during 2020 have included the evaluation of activity in 91 entities. They have included, central institutions, ministries and agencies (including central and regional directorates affiliated to them), local self-government units (counties, municipalities), general directorates of fiscal administration, special funds, as well as joint stock companies with state capital, in which the state has over 50% of shares, or foreign-funded projects.

“Irregularities and financial violations, in revenues and expenditures, with economic damage are in the amount of 2,193,692 thousand Lek, and irregularities and illegal actions with negative effects on public finances of audited entities, amount to 85,867,279 thousand Lek”, said Shehu.

In the audited institutions, the State Supreme Audit has addressed a total of 1430 recommendations during the period January-December 2020, of which: 29 are legal improvements, 1107 organizational recommendations and 294 measures of disciplinary and administrative recommendations./r.e/p.s./