Albania earns GRECO praise for anti-corruption progress; Edi Rama urges digital overhaul of justice system
Albania has made notable progress in preventing corruption within government and law enforcement, according to a new report by the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body, GRECO. During a visit to Tirana this week, GRECO President Gianluca Esposito praised Albania’s institutional efforts as “excellent”, calling them effective in fighting corruption.
Why is this important: The endorsement from GRECO comes as Albania seeks to strengthen its rule of law credentials amid EU accession negotiations. Prime Minister Edi Rama emphasized that while corruption remains a global phenomenon, Albania has taken meaningful steps to prevent it. The report adds momentum to the country’s reform narrative ahead of key milestones in its EU path.
Context: Speaking in Tirana, Esposito praised Albania. “Authorities have put in place a system that is effective in fighting corruption. Corruption is not a matter of nationality, passport or identity – it’s a phenomenon.”
Prime Minister Rama echoed the sentiment, stating that a government is judged not only by what it achieves but also by what it prevents. He highlighted Albania’s reforms over the past decade, often praised by international institutions, and stressed the need to modernize further.
What else: Rama singled out the justice system for lagging behind in digitization, describing it as “still in the Stone Age.” He criticized the lack of audio and video documentation in police and prosecution interviews, calling for urgent modernization.
“We still conduct interviews in police and prosecution offices without audio or video. The prosecutor asks, the person answers, and then the prosecutor writes whatever they want. This has to change,” Rama said.
He confirmed that the government has allocated funds to digitize case management and called on the High Judicial Council to act without further delay.
“We remain fully committed to supporting SPAK, the Special Court, and all new institutions born from the justice reform,” he added.
Rama said the government is ready to invest in the system and expects the judiciary to match that willingness to implement overdue reforms.
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