TIRANA, Dec. 20 – The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Bernd Borchardt, said this week stronger independent institutions are needed to complete investigations that result in punishments for corrupt officials.
“I am very much convinced that much more has to be done to fight corruption. A solid track record of investigation, prosecution and convictions is necessary,” he said. “We started the ‘stopkorrupsioni” portal which we helped to establish and that led to more than 100 corruption cases sent to the prosecution. But where are the results? Where are the indictments? Where are the convictions? The same question has to be raised about electoral crime. Vote buying cases have been referred to the prosecution. Where are the indictments?”
Likewise, he asked about the lack of results for the transparency of funding of political parties, where the international community sought to establish an effective and accountable audit system.
In other countries, strong and independent anti-corruption institutions are a very useful tool to fight corruption, so he recommended working for setting up such an organ here in Albania as well.
“The Justice Reform is of central importance. But it is not everything. Corruption is a menace for every citizen, every day. We encourage Albania to do more about it,” he said.
Ambassador Borchardt made the comments at Support Anti-Corruption Measures project’s closing event. The project was done with the support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Italian School of Public Administration as well as with the engagement of government representatives, civil society, business and students’ community.
He said that despite the international support, Albanians themselves have to use the training and knowledge if they want to make a difference.
Albania has adopted a code of conduct against bribery for the business community, has conducted awareness campaigns and anti-bribery campaign and its impact on the investment climate, however corruption is still widespread at many levels of public and private structures.
Albania has taken some important steps forward in the fight against corruption. The index of Transparency International at Albania at 31 out of 100 in 2013, and was in 2016 at 39. However, Borchardt added this progress is “certainly not enough and far away from good.”
