"We have limited progress in public procurement and financial control"/ Rama: Food safety, the challenge of challenges

2026-03-30 12:41:00, Politikë CNA

"We have limited progress in public procurement and financial

Prime Minister Edi Rama has gathered ministers today to provide an overview of Albania's negotiation process with the European Union.

During his speech, Rama stated that this process consolidates the justice institutions, which according to him now have the independence they have never had.

Among other things, he added that in the consolidation process, justice institutions must increase professionalism, independence and quality of services.

He further stated that two areas where Albania's progress is limited are public procurement and financial control. He also described food safety as one of the biggest challenges.

"This process consolidates the justice institutions that have moved to another phase as they have the independence they have never had. In the consolidation process, they must increase the professionalism, independence and quality of their services. This process ensures the fight against corruption, not as a fight that takes place on the front of the corruption phenomenon but also in that of modernization of institutional transformation and the realization of a capacity of the entire state to prevent corruption.

Two things that stand out to me in the presentation made. The first is the necessity to move from the red light to the green light of public procurement. We have made great progress but we are not yet in the framework of good progress, which also means fulfilling this aspect as part of the conditions. It is important that the work started to modernize public procurement with Artificial Intelligence must continue intensively and be crowned to make us an example country in this regard. This must be done within the negotiation calendar.

Another thing is financial control where progress is limited. Closing with the challenge of challenges, which is food safety and consumer protection. The inspection reform must continue and the political direction of the reform by all ministries is key, in the sense of protection from party interference and complicity. Qualitative human resources must be guaranteed, so that the level of inspection increases significantly as it is key to guaranteeing all the reforms that are being made in these areas. At the end of the day, the issue comes down to implementation and continuous monitoring", said Rama. /CNA