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IBAR report released/EU raises alarm: Attacks by officials against SPAK, prosecutors and judges on the rise

2026-05-21 18:26:00, Aktualitet CNA

IBAR report released/EU raises alarm: Attacks by officials against SPAK,

The final report of the European Union member states on Albania's progress in the accession negotiations process has recently been made public. The document, agreed on a draft by the European Commission and accompanied by the Interim Milestone Assessment Report (IBAR), summarizes the country's progress to date in fulfilling its integration obligations.

This report highlights the strong criticism of the EU, which expresses regret and urges Albania to address the increasing and worrying efforts by public officials or politicians, including those at high levels, to exercise excessive influence over justice institutions, including SPAK.

It is also emphasized that Albania must address personal attacks against judges and prosecutors, underlining that the Supreme Court and the Supreme Judicial Council must react decisively to attacks on the judiciary by representatives of the executive or legislative branch.

“The EU regrets and urges Albania to effectively address the increasing and worrying attempts by public officials or politicians, including those at high levels, to exert undue influence over justice institutions, including the Specialized Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), and personal attacks on judges and prosecutors, as well as to further strengthen the resilience of justice institutions to cases of internal and external interference, including by ensuring that the KLGJ and KLP continue to react decisively to attacks on the judiciary by representatives of the executive or legislative branch,” the report states.

IBAR report released/EU raises alarm: Attacks by officials against SPAK,

Further, the report notes that the EU has found that Albania's legislative and institutional framework for anti-corruption is partially in line with the EU acquis.

It also assessed Albania's progress in investigating, prosecuting and convicting corruption charges, including against senior officials.

According to the report, the EU welcomes the good results achieved so far by SPAK and its courts, including in high-level corruption cases. However, the EU underlines that corruption remains widespread in most areas of public and business life, including in all branches of central and local government and institutions, and remains an area of ??great concern.

"The EU notes that Albania's legislative and institutional framework on anti-corruption is partially in line with the EU acquis. The EU welcomes Albania's tangible progress in investigating, prosecuting and convicting corruption charges, including against high-ranking officials. The EU welcomes the good results achieved so far by SPAK and its courts, including in high-level corruption cases. However, the EU underlines that corruption remains widespread in most areas of public and business life, including in all branches of central and local government and institutions, and remains an area of ??great concern.

The EU stresses the importance that Albania intensify efforts to fight high-level corruption and uphold the principle of equality before the law, and that the judiciary, including SPAK, continue to carry out its work independently, as well as with impartiality, accountability, professionalism and respect for the rights of the defence, without interference," the report says./ CNA

IBAR report released/EU raises alarm: Attacks by officials against SPAK,