British minister, Europe urges higher judicial standards

TIRANA, March 27 – British Minister of Justice, Lord McNally, arrived last week in Albania for a two-day visit in the context of promoting bilateral commitment between United Kingdom – Albania and his main meetings and topics were about the rule of law, and for the reforms related with the EU integration.
Lord McNally said his visit was a sign of the confidence and he highlighted the UK’s strong support for Albania’s EU perspective, and the important reform agenda that underpins that.
Lord McNally said “the rule of law is fundamental for democracy to function and that building the justice system is an integral part of building democracy”.
Lord McNally also emphasized the UK’s strong support for reform to foster an independent and professional judiciary stating “this would show Albania’s capacity for reform and would enable the UK and other partners of Albania to be confident in saying that Albania belongs in the European Union”.
He said “I will give a message to your parliament and politicians that these reforms are for the benefit of all citizens and that national interest must be put ahead of party political interests”.
Lord McNally expressed the UK’s strong appreciation for the cooperation with key Albanian institutions, notably the Prosecutor General and the Albanian State Police. He reiterated the UK’s continuing assistance to and support for Albania’s justice system and EU aspirations.
The Minister met with the Albanian President, Prime Minister, judges of the Supreme Court and the General Prosecutor during which he stressed the need to transition from commitments to concrete actions in terms of judicial reform.
Sir Henry Brooke, a senior British judge who has led a UK project with the Albanian High Court, also took part at a seminar. At a two day event British human rights experts discussed with the judges of the Supreme Court the operation of the European Convention on Human Rights and other human rights treaties which contain obligations directly enforceable in Albanian law.
“A court which is transparent and open will not be afraid to hear what people think of it. And if it changes its practices to take account of what people think of it, the result can only be of benefit to the citizens of Albania. And that, after all, is what the work of a judge is all about,” he said also referring to the experience of the British court being open to school students.
The European Union’s 1 million euro project “Support to the Albanian Penitentiary Reform” was launched in Tirana taking the form of a Twinning between the Albanian Ministry of Justice and the UK Ministry of Justice.
Experts from the UK Ministry of Justice will work with the Albanian counterparts to promote and improve the use of alternative sentences for petty offenders, such as community service, in order to ease overcrowding in prisons, management of prisons and costs, as well as foster better re-integration and rehabilitation mechanisms for offenders.
The Opinion of the European Commission on Albania’s readiness for candidate status pointed out several shortcomings in Albania’s penitentiary system, especially overcrowding of prisons and ill-treatment. Alternative sentences to imprisonment are important instruments to address overcrowding and also offer the necessary conditions especially for petty and young offenders to be re-educated into society and not re-offend.
This twinning project will assist the Ministry of Justice to improve its professional management systems and working practices in order to enhance the efficiency of the probation system in Albania. In particular, the UK experts will work with the General Directorate of Probations and the General Directorate of Prisons.
Head of the EU Delegation to Albania, Ambassador Ettore Sequi noted the importance of promoting a wider and better use of alternative sentences, emphasizing that “Alternative measures imply that the potential for good of a person is not put to an abrupt and final end by a conflict with the law. They imply the right to a second, better chance”.
The project started in February 2011 and will continue until the end of February 2012. The project complements other EU assistance for the construction of new prisons and pre-trail detention centers, for the Juvenile Justice Reform and more. This 1 million euro also complements the expertise on penitentiary issues and human rights provided by EU-funded projects with civil society organizations.