SPAK Head, Braho meets in Brussels/ Focus on anti-corruption and justice in Albania

2026-02-25 09:15:00, Aktualitet CNA

SPAK Head, Braho meets in Brussels/ Focus on anti-corruption and justice in

The head of SPAK, Klodjan Braho, was summoned to Brussels on March 3 for a meeting to discuss justice and anti-corruption issues in our country.

The agenda approved on Tuesday afternoon by the ambassadors of the 27 member states states that the 7th meeting of the Justice and Security Committee will focus on critical integration reforms, specifically on ensuring the independence of the judiciary, the rule of law and concrete actions against corruption and organized crime. The preliminary material also emphasizes that Albania should continue its efforts to strengthen law enforcement, the approximation of visa policies and the management of illegal migration.

Operational results are also required in the fight against organized crime, drug trafficking, especially against cannabis cultivation, and to prevent money laundering. The Prosecutor General, Olsian Çela, is also expected to be present at this meeting.

This meeting is seen as a test case for the concrete results that Albanian officials will present before EU member states decide whether to give the green light to the preliminary IBAR report on Albania regarding the implementation of the criteria of chapters 23-24 that include the independence of the judiciary, a report without whose approval the process of closing the group of chapters of the accession negotiations does not begin.

According to European officials, the role of SPAK and GJKKO and their independence in investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating complex corruption and organized crime cases is a cornerstone of the 2016 justice reform. The EU supports and promotes the continued consolidation of this reform as an integral part of Albania's accession negotiations.

SPAK has contributed to Albania's overall efforts to ensure a credible record against corruption and organized crime as well as the involvement of high-level political officials in these acts.

It is also requested to increase the effectiveness of the verification of asset declarations submitted periodically by state officials. The European Commission also recalls the need to address the outstanding recommendations of GRECO. The European Commission encourages the establishment as soon as possible of a National Drugs Observatory, which should be fully operational and provided with sufficient financial resources.