EU looks at strategy to fight corruption in Albania

TIRANA, Nov. 22 – A conference to review the implementation of the Anti-corruption Strategy and the 2010 Action Plan in Albania was held Monday in the framework of the Project against Corruption in Albania, funded with 2 million euros by the European Union, and additional 130,000 euros by the Council of Europe.
The conference brought together the highest level authorities of the executive and judiciary, international actors, and civil society.
In reviewing the implementation of the 2010 Action Plan of the Anti-Corruption Strategy, special attention has been given to the recommendations of the recent European Commission’s Opinion on Albania’s application for EU membership, as well as to the recommendations provided by the Project Against Corruption in Albania.
Luigi Brusa, Charg顤’Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Albania, said, Albania should not only see effective fight against corruption as a requirement on its EU accession path, but as a key reform process which will benefit the country as a whole. He recalled the conclusions and the specific key priority in the opinion on the matter: “Effectively implement the government’s anti-corruption strategy and action plan, remove obstacles to investigations, in particular of judges, ministers and Member of Parliaments; develop a solid track record of proactive investigations, prosecutions and convictions in corruption cases at all levels.”
More specifically, this means completing anti-corruption legislation and institutional set-up; improving anti-corruption monitoring, reporting and statistics; increasing resources to effectively fight corruption, including salaries for prosecutors and judges, and human resources; establishing a track record of investigation-prosecution- conviction of high level corruption cases and address obstacles to lifting the immunity of MPs, judges and ministers; and increasing transparency of political party financing. The opinion also asks for special attention to the system of restitution and compensation of property rights, and the health sector.
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, expressed confidence that the conference has brought clarity about the state of play with combating corruption in Albania and how best to build further on what has been achieved. She said she hoped that it would help convey to the public a genuine resolve on behalf of the Albanian Government to achieve a breakthrough in combating corruption.
“The battle against corruption will only be won when the public attitude changes from resignation to resistance – from ‘everybody is doing it’ to ‘this I do not accept’, said Maud de Boer Buquicchio.
This high-level meeting marks the start of a series of follow-up technical meetings to take place during December 2010 between DIACA and the line ministries. These meetings will be organized within the framework of PACA project to prepare the anti-corruption Action Plan 2011-2013.
The PACA project started in September 2009, it is a 30-month project principally funded by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe. The EU is also supporting other seven projects implemented by Civil Society Organizations in the field of anti-corruption with a total budget of 600.000.