Albania’s judicial reform praised by Dutch experts in Hague as best in Balkan

23/05/2018 17:14

Dutch experts have considered Albania’s judicial reform as one of the best models in Western Balkan and in other countries as well.
The Albanian Interior and Justice Ministers, Fatmir Xhafaj and Etilda Gjonaj, attended a meeting organized by the Albanian embassy in Netherlands, in cooperation with the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC).
“Reforms in Albania cannot be considered cosmetic. On the contrary, it is a courageous effort, unique of its kind”, said Robert Bosch, former Ambassador of the OSCE presence in Albania, and moderator of the discussion board.
Minister Xhafaj said that what Albanians expect from this reform is cleaning the system from corrupted judges and prosecutors, who are incapable or whose decisions are influenced by the crime world.
The Justice Minister said that the justice system in Albania was rebuilt from its foundations.
“Not everyone likes it, because many have a lot to lose. The radical changes in the Albanian legal system are not only related to laws and rules, but also the hearts and minds of the people”.
Ervin Vincken, vice director of the CILC, responsible for leading the Dutch expert team, said that the legal reform in Albania is of a historic and unprecedented scale.
“Almost every article of the Albanian legal system has been changed. We appreciated the approval in principle of the Eurojust agreement from Albania. Through its attendance in other international platforms, Albania has turned into a member with full rights in the global legal ecosystem. Opening Albania’s accession negotiations with the EU would help encourage the government to carry on even more radical reforms”, he said.
Agnes Bernhard, leader of the Euralius team, shared with the present the important role of EURALIUS in drafting the reform and implementing it.

Dutch experts have considered Albania’s judicial reform as one of the best models in Western Balkan and in other countries as well.

The Albanian Interior and Justice Ministers, Fatmir Xhafaj and Etilda Gjonaj, attended a meeting organized by the Albanian embassy in the Netherlands, in cooperation with the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC).

“Reforms in Albania cannot be considered cosmetic. On the contrary, it is a courageous effort, unique of its kind”, said Robert Bosch, former Ambassador of the OSCE presence in Albania, and moderator of the discussion board.

Minister Xhafaj said that what Albanians expect from this reform is cleaning the system from corrupted judges and prosecutors, who are incapable or whose decisions are influenced by the crime world.

The Justice Minister said that the justice system in Albania was rebuilt from its foundations.

“Not everyone likes it, because many have a lot to lose. The radical changes in the Albanian legal system are not only related to laws and rules but also to the hearts and minds of the people”.

Ervin Vincken, vice director of the CILC, responsible for leading the Dutch expert team, said that the legal reform in Albania is of a historic and unprecedented scale.

“Almost every article of the Albanian legal system has been changed. We appreciated the approval in principle of the Eurojust agreement from Albania. Through its attendance in other international platforms, Albania has turned into a member with full rights in the global legal ecosystem. Opening Albania’s accession negotiations with the EU would help encourage the government to carry on even more radical reforms”, he said.

Agnes Bernhard, leader of the Euralius team, shared with the present the important role of EURALIUS in drafting the reform and implementing it.

 

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