“Limited progress with corruption”

Wolfgang Rau, Secretary of the GRECO, an institution of the Council of Europe for 14 years, in which Albania is a member, declared for Deutsche Welle that they will continue monitoring the standards against corruption, because the fight against corruption is a long-term challenge that needs constant efforts. So far GRECO has made three evaluations for the situation in Albania.

“The recent report of GRECO for Albania says that the implementation of the law, especially that of the Penal Code about active bribes in the public and private sector, and also in the influence traffic, the progress so far is very limited and the law implementation has been hampered by the lack of information and general understanding for the entire Penal Code section of corruption. Albania needs a constant development of these measures in practice, and trainings of the police officers, judges and prosecutors’, Rau declared.

Wolfgang Rau mentioned the strong political will in the high levels of our country as the first condition in an efficient war against corruption.

“Experience shows that some conditions need to be completed for fighting corruption with efficiency, starting from a strong political will in the highest level, which is translated in concrete measures for guaranteeing that the police, the prosecution and the courts have what they need for continuing their job, including a sufficient number of specialized staff. In many countries the establishment of a powerful, independent anti-corruption institution has proved to be an asset in the war against corruption”, Rau underlined.

In the fulfillment of the Council of Europe standards for the war against corruption, Rau suggested that the next government of Albania should take more determined decisions for effective penal prosecution and effective preventive measures, and also a fair trial for fighting corruption successfully.

Ray declared that by the end of October GRECO will organize a visit to Albania from which they will compile a report regarding the prevention of corruption for the Parliament Members, judges and prosecutors. GRECO plans to adapt a report by the first months of 2014. Albania is expected to complete the recommendations of this report within 18 months.

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