TIRANA, Dec. 11 – Through a common statement, the US Embassy to Tirana and the European Delegation underlined on Monday the need to establish the High Prosecutorial Council and the High Judicial Council, both key bodies of the justice reform, as soon as possible,
“We call upon Albanian judges and prosecutors to ensure a free and transparent election process for magistrates at the High Prosecution Council and the High Judicial Council. The ongoing construction of justice reform institutions should be held and confirmed this week,” the statement of the country’s two most important diplomatic delegations stated.
In this context, the meeting to establish the HPC was held on Monday, while the judges’ meeting for the HJC is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
Further on, the statement called on judges to show responsibility in founding the justice bodies of the future, and reminded that further consolidation of the progress done so far is key in opening accession negotiations in June 2019.
Temporary General Prosecutor Arta Marku told prosecutors before the meeting called to establish the HPC on Monday that “we are lucky today to lay the foundations of the first new justice institution through our participation and our vote, so don’t miss out on this opportunity for any reason.”
The establishment of the HJC and the HPC is expected to restore normality to the justice system, while opening the way for the establishment of the Special Court and Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the National Bureau of Investigation, which will be focused on the fight against organized crime and corruption.
Additionally, a functioning justice system may be more necessary now than ever, as the government faces serious allegations of illegally granting an offshore US company and its branch in Albania two public tenders totaling 30 million euros and claiming it was just an innocent mistake.
Both councils will consist of 11 members, out of which 5 come from outside the system, while the other 6 members are selected according to court and prosecution-level division: three from the First Instance, two from the Appeals, where at least one should come from district bodies, one by the General Prosecutor’s Office in the case of HPC and one by the Supreme Court in the case of HJC.
