During the opening ceremony, the European Union Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa emphasized the importance of the rule of law in the country’s journey toward EU membership.

Addressing the new candidates, Ambassador Moreira de Sousa highlighted that their integrity and independence would be among the most important contributions to the citizens they will serve in the future.

” Your integrity and independence will be among your most vital contributions to the citizens you serve,” she stated.

The EU Ambassador also emphasized the need to further strengthen judicial efficiency, safeguard the independence of the justice system and increase accountability.

“The justice system must further strengthen efforts to improve judicial efficiency, preserve its independence and increase accountability,” said Moreira de Sousa. She emphasized that progress in strengthening the rule of law remains a crucial element of Albania’s EU accession process.

“Without progress in strengthening the rule of law, the EU accession process cannot move forward. The European Union is here to support you in achieving this goal,” the ambassador stated. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

Deeming the law unconstitutional, the organizations are petitioning for its total repeal and requesting an immediate suspension of its enforcement until the Constitutional Court issues a final verdict. At the heart of their challenge is the new salary formula for magistrates, which ties their base pay to that of the President through a 0.38 coefficient.

Furthermore, the groups warn that the law threatens judicial independence. Under Article 138 of the Constitution, a magistrate’s salary is a key material guarantee of that independence.

Another claim concerns the parliamentary procedure used to adopt the law. The organizations state that the process failed to ensure genuine, transparent, and effective consultation with justice system representatives. According to them, notifications for the parliamentary committee hearings on September 15, 2026, were issued just minutes before the meetings began, making it impossible to present or substantively discuss their positions. The matter has now been submitted to the Constitutional Court, which will review the claims and consider the request to suspend the law’s implementation.

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At the start of the plenary session, Balla stated that the Legislation Council has concluded its review, clearing the bill for a plenary vote.

“Your request cannot be approved because the Legislation Council has already issued its opinion,” Balla said, describing the Democrats’ stance as “hypocritical”; he argued that they had initially accused the ruling majority of delays, yet were now calling for the vote to be postponed.

Balla stated that the majority would vote against the Democratic Party’s request and that the bill would be discussed in the Parliament today.

“Therefore, our vote regarding the Democratic Party Parliamentary group’s request is against it. The request is hypocritical. We were told we were late, and now you tell us that because we are late, we should postpone it. There is an inconsistency in stance regarding the Parliament’s duty; we are voting on it today,” Balla added.

He also addressed the President of the Republic, calling for cooperation to ensure that, if the law is passed, it enters into force as soon as possible and—in his view—resolves the impasse regarding magistrates’ salaries. /m.m/p.s./

In a reaction on social networks, Rama stated that his name and that of the Minister of Justice are missing in that criminal complaint because the Minister of Finance has consulted with them beforehand.

While emphasizing that the judicial power cannot open the door to the state treasury, the prime minister assured that, “Salaries will be increased by decision of the Assembly of Albania and in full respect of the decision of the Constitutional Court”.

Following is the full reaction of PM Rama:

“The criminal complaint of the judges against the Minister of Finance for not allowing them to open the treasury door to increase their salaries, while the minister is waiting by law and custom for the Albanian Parliament to express its opinion on the decision of the Constitutional Court, has only one deficiency:

My name and that of the Minister of Justice are missing because the Minister of Finance has previously consulted with us about his position, for which our legal teams have also unanimously expressed the position that the judicial power cannot open the door to the state treasury.

Only the Parliament can do this.

That’s all I had and I don’t want to go into detail about what I think about this whole stale story of self-increase of salaries, from the best-paid category of the Republic of Albania. But, as far as I’m concerned, nothing changes, salaries will be increased by decision of the Albanian Parliament and in full respect of the decision of the Constitutional Court.” /a.f/p.s./

Malaj said to “Euronews” TV that the problem is related to the way the August payrolls were drawn up by the High Judicial Council and the High Prosecutorial Council.

According to Malaj, High Judicial Council and the High Prosecutorial Council have submitted the August payrolls based on a different methodology than the one currently in force.

For this reason, the minister has asked the two institutions to submit the August payrolls and expenditure orders again, according to the methodology used until July.

Malaj argued that the new changes in magistrates’ salaries cannot yet be implemented in the payrolls, as the relevant legal amendments have not been approved by the Albanian Parliament.

“The Ministry of Finance cannot replace the Parliament in exercising its normative function, nor can it determine, through budget execution procedures, the concrete salary formula,” Malaj stated.

The minister also refers to Decision No. 15, dated February 17, 2026, of the Constitutional Court, emphasizing that the decision is final and binding, but its implementation requires the relevant legal amendments, which must be approved by the Parliament.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the salaries of other institutions of the justice system have been executed normally and this indicates that there is no general block of the salaries. SPAK, the Constitutional Court and other institutions have submitted the August payrolls according to the existing methodology and the payments have been made.

Under these circumstances, Malaj asked the High Judicial Council and the High Prosecutorial Council to submit the August payrolls without delay, using the July payroll standard.

“As soon as the Treasury structures get the payrolls according to the standard in force, they will proceed with priority and will make the payments without delay”, assured the minister.

Malaj also emphasized that the Ministry of Finance does not put in question the decision of the Constitutional Court. According to him, after the approval of the legal amendments by the Parliament, the ministry will immediately take measures for their implementation and will also provide financial resources for any salary difference that will result in mandatory, including the effects for previous periods.

So, according to the Minister of Finance, the salaries of magistrates have not been blocked by the Treasury department. Payments can be processed based on the methodology currently in force, while the new changes in salaries will be reflected after the Parliament approves the relevant legal framework. /Euronews Albania/p.s./

While generations shift, laws advance, and technology transforms our work, the foundation of the legal profession remains rooted in integrity, humility, and honesty. Sadushi noted that because behind every case lie real people and communities, judicial decisions require a balance of legal expertise, sensitivity, and profound accountability.

Emphasizing the pressure of the modern media landscape, Sadushi cautioned new magistrates against letting rapid public perception dictate their work. Instead, he challenged them to cut through the noise and stand firm in their professionalism, composure, and conscience.

In concluding his speech, the head of the Supreme Court emphasized that diplomas and competences are only the beginning of the professional journey, while the public’s trust is earned every day through the decisions, conduct and integrity of each magistrate. /m.q/j.p/p.s./

Law No. 10/2026, published in the Official Gazette and signed into law by the President, will enter into force on Feb. 28, 2026. It introduces lifetime bans on former magistrates who were dismissed or resigned to avoid the vetting process from seeking appointment to key justice institutions.

Under the legislation, those individuals are explicitly prohibited from running for seats on the High Judicial Council and High Prosecutorial Council, as well as from being employed as lecturers, trainers or experts at the School of Magistrates.

For new candidates drawn from the ranks of lawyers, academia and civil society, the law stipulates a rigorous “mini-vetting” process, including checks on assets, possible links to organised crime and enhanced scrutiny by the People’s Advocate and competent authorities such as Special Anticorruption and Anticrime Prosecution Structure (SPAK), the National Bureau of Investigation, tax authorities and customs.

The amendments also clarify definitions related to organised crime and assets, and strengthen the role of the High Justice Inspector, while tightening standards for legal advisers and assistants in courts and prosecution offices.

The law aims to safeguard the integrity of Albania’s justice system and prevent individuals with integrity concerns from returning to key state institutions.

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The amendments to the law on judges and prosecutors aim to strengthen the independence, impartiality and accountability of magistrates, with the goal of building an independent, professional, credible and citizen-centered justice system.

The draft was prepared in line with European Commission recommendations for Albania for 2021–2025 and the Rule of Law Roadmap, and seeks to meet interim benchmarks under EU accession Chapter 23: Judiciary and Fundamental Rights.

The proposed changes address shortcomings identified in the enforcement of the current law, including the lack of permanent leadership in courts and prosecutor’s offices, limited transparency in council decision-making and the need to reinforce integrity checks for magistrate candidates.

Under a transitional provision, current heads of courts and prosecutor’s offices would remain in office until Dec. 31, 2028, provided they pass the vetting process and receive a positive performance evaluation.

Changes are also proposed to the secondment of magistrates to the High Inspectorate of Justice, extending the maximum secondment period to 15 years and recognising such experience as added value for career advancement.

Separately, amendments to the law on the governance bodies of the justice system seek to address legal ambiguities and regulatory gaps identified during the justice reform, with the aim of improving effectiveness, transparency and integrity.

The draft law, comprising 38 articles, requires non-magistrate members of both the HCJ and HPC to undergo enhanced screening procedures similar to the vetting process applied to magistrates, in order to ensure parity and institutional integrity.

The same framework would apply to candidates from academia and civil society, with designated institutions responsible for collecting documentation and conducting in-depth checks.

The legal changes aim to raise credibility, transparency and integrity standards for all non-magistrate members of the justice system’s governing bodies.

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Addressing the event, Justice Minister Manja emphasized that magistrate integrity is not just a legal or constitutional term but the core of citizens’ trust in justice. It entails impartiality, honesty, accountability, independence, fair treatment of citizens, commitment, and judicial efficiency.

Manja said that judicial reform and vetting were necessary steps to cleanse the system but noted that these alone are not enough.

“True integrity is built and maintained daily by the system itself, through how magistrates and justice institutions keep themselves accountable and maintain their integrity,” he said, highlighting the critical role of the High Judicial Council, High Prosecutorial Council, High Inspectorate of Justice, and the School of Magistrates.

He stressed that these constitutional bodies, together with judges and prosecutors, hold the constitutional, legal, and institutional responsibility to sustainably guarantee system integrity and independence.

“Only if justice system actors work honestly every day for their integrity, independence, and accountability will citizens perceive and trust that justice is fair and equal for all,” Justice Minister stated.

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In his remarks at an event hosted by the School of Magistrates as part of a project on cooperation with the best schools of magistrates in Europe, the EU Ambassador highlighted the importance of carrying on with the reform spirit and not hindering the reform efforts.

“The judicial reform achievements need to further consolidate in terms of punishment aspect of the fight against corruption,” Gonzato said.

“It is important to maintain the spirit of the Justice Reform, taking into account elements that can improve or hinder its implementation, and it is important to protect it,” he added.

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