Special Commission completes first phase of Governance, Rule of Law, and Anti-Corruption analysis

After six months of intensive work, the Special Commission for Good Governance, Rule of Law, and Anti-Corruption has concluded the first phase of its efforts. The Commission has produced a comprehensive 700-page report detailing the findings, challenges, and recommendations for improving governance, strengthening the rule of law, and combating corruption. The report was crafted by local experts, with guidance from European Union (EU) and United States (U.S.) advisors.

Why is this important: The initiative has sparked political controversy, with the opposition boycotting the commission, accusing the government of attempting to undermine justice reform and weaken the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK). However, Prime Minister Edi Rama and the commission chair defended the process, emphasizing that the report contains no recommendations affecting the justice system. Instead, the document focuses on coordinating reforms to accelerate Albania’s EU accession process.

What the report Includes: The 700-page report is a detailed analysis of governance in three pillars: good governance, rule of law, and anti-corruption. It provides:

·         Performance assessments: a review of institutional performance in these areas, highlighting progress and ongoing challenges.

·         Recommendations: concrete measures to enhance institutional efficiency and strengthen governance mechanisms.

·         Action plans: specific steps for coordinating reforms to meet EU standards by 2030.

·         International best practice: examples from EU and U.S. governance models, offering insights for implementing effective reforms in Albania.

The document avoids addressing the justice reform, a point underscored by the Albanian Prime Minister, who stated it is purely focused on non-judicial governance and reform acceleration.

Context: The EU Ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato repeatedly stressed the importance of bipartisan cooperation and maintaining the independence of justice reform. He urged opposition parties to participate in the commission’s work, which is seen as vital for Albania’s EU accession.

Responding to these concerns, Prime Minister Rama reiterated his openness to opposition involvement but made it clear that their absence will not delay reforms. “If the uncooperative forces want to join us, we welcome them with open arms. But their absence will not hinder us from pursuing our objective of EU membership by 2030,” Rama declared.

On the topic of the justice reform, Rama dismissed concerns over the risks to the independence of justice institutions, stating that it is protected by the Socialist Party, the architects of the reform. “The justice reform’s integrity is guaranteed by the Socialist Party. Adjustments required for EU accession will be made transparently and in collaboration with the EU and U.S.,” Rama added.

New initiatives for transparency:  As part of the broader reforms, Rama announced a new initiative, “Transparent Albania,” aimed at improving accountability and public oversight. The project will implement a digital platform to track all government activities, procurement processes, and public spending in real time. He emphasized the importance of combating corruption in public procurement, a historically problematic area. He revealed plans to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into procurement systems, ensuring enhanced transparency and efficiency. “Artificial intelligence will transform public procurement, tackling corruption at its core and bringing unprecedented transparency to governance,” the Prime Minister said.

What’s next: The commission will now proceed to the next phase, focusing on implementing the recommendations from the report and strengthening institutions. Simultaneously, the government plans to roll out the “Transparent Albania” initiative and AI-driven reforms, that it believes will help speed up Albania’s efforts to meet EU standards.