TIRANA (Albania), April 25 (SeeNews) – Albania should further consolidate the rule of law, particularly in the area of justice reform and the vetting process, the European Commission said on Thursday, underlying the need for continuous efforts in the fight against corruption and organised crime.
Justice reform and the vetting process have laid the foundations for consolidating a truly independent, impartial, professional and accountable judiciary, the Commission said in a press release, following the 11th subcommittee meeting on justice, freedom and security between the EU and Albania held on April 24 in Brussels.
“The Commission acknowledged the tangible results achieved on the cultivation and trafficking of cannabis and stressed the importance of finalising the establishment of the Specialised Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK),” the EU's executive body said, adding that ensuring that recent successful police operations are duly followed up by investigations, indictments and final convictions is key.
The commission noted that fundamental rights require further efforts for effective implementation of the relevant legislation, including the adoption of the necessary secondary legislation, also in the area of protection of minorities.
“The Commission and Albania noted the decrease in asylum applications lodged by Albanian citizens to EU member states and Schengen-associated countries in 2018 compared to 2017, agreed on the importance to continue concrete efforts to address the phenomenon of unfounded asylum applications, and to swiftly address the recommendations of the Monyeval report on anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing,” the Commission said.
Albania was granted EU candidate status in 2014 and hopes to launch membership negotiations later this year.