Gogu met with Gunther Krichbaum and Annette Kramme to discuss priorities following the positive assessment by EU partners.

The Minister said Albania views the IBAR not as the culmination of reforms but as authorization to move into the most demanding phase of the process.

“We do not see the IBAR as the completion of our work. We see it as approval to continue with the phase that requires even more effort,” Gogu said, describing Germany as a strategic partner in Albania’s EU integration path.

Discussions focused on judicial independence, the fight against corruption and organized crime, and the effectiveness of new justice institutions, areas that remain central to the EU’s evaluation process.

Gogu said the Ministry’s priorities for the next stage include improving access to justice, increasing judicial efficiency and strengthening procedural rights, in line with the findings of the IBAR.

German officials reiterated their support for Albania’s EU ambitions, stressing that progress must continue to be based on merit and measurable results.

In a separate meeting with Kramme, who also heads the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ), the two sides discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in justice, including judicial digitalization, court administration and institutional capacity-building.

The next phase of reforms will focus on meeting the remaining benchmarks under Chapter 23, particularly in the areas of access to justice, judicial efficiency and digitalization. Gogu’s visit to Berlin is set to continue with meetings with members of the German Bundestag.

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