Progress report: Political dialogue remains a challenge

Top Channel secured a confidential document for the enlargement strategy that is expected to be published this Wednesday, officially. It says that there has been progress in fulfilling the political criteria. The report mention the start of the High-Rank Dialogue for the five key priorities and the establishing of joint working groups for structuring the necessary reforms, while they are waiting for the creation of the National Council of European Integration, which should encourage all-inclusiveness and unite in this process everyone who is interested.

Even this year the report mentions the political tensions and the parliamentary boycott. The Commission repeats that a constructive and uninterrupted dialogue is vital for the stability of these reforms.

“The Parliament approved the European Integration resolution with consensus. A series of legal measures passed for the European Integration, mainly in the fight against corruption and organized crime, and also voted the new appointments at the judiciary. The transparency of the legal procedures was improved. However, a tense political climate damaged the parliamentary work, caused by the absence of the opposition and its boycott since July. The public administration reform has made progress, mainly with the Civil Service Law, the passing of sub-legal acts and the steps taken for improving the recruiting procedures. The implementation of this law needs to be followed closely, in order to reinforce depoliticization, accountability and professional standards in the public administration”, the report says.

The report values the cooperation of the Venice Commission for the judiciary reform, another key priority, and creating the strategy of 2014-2020. Measures were taken for improving the judiciary accountability and transparency, including a series of disciplinary measures. The Administrative Courts started working, but the report underlines that the changes in the law for the HCJ were made without consulting the involved actors, and that there are still many flows. However, there is a general raised awareness for the urgent need of a deep reform in the judiciary.

“Essential efforts are needed to guarantee independence, efficiency and accountability of the judiciary, including through Constitutional amends. Albania must follow this process in cooperation with the interested party, and must include the constant cooperation of the Venice Commission. This initiative is needed to reinforce the disciplinary system for judges, prosecutors and lawyers, and to improve the efficiency of courts”, the report says.

The report recognizes improvement in the fight against corruption with the political will shown by the government, to act with determination for preventing this phenomenon, which is prevailing even in this report.

“However, corruption is prevailing in many sectors, including the judiciary and the law enforcing institutions. It remains a serious problem. Albania must take measures for reinforcing the legal structure and approve the strategy and action plans against corruption for the period 2014-2020.

The inter-institutional cooperation must be higher and the existing obstacles to pro-active investigations should be avoided. Albania must develop the traces of evidence for this investigation, the prosecution and conviction for corruption cases, especially among higher ranks”, the report says.

The document values the appointing of the National Coordinator Against Corruption and the creation of a network at the respective ministries. Positive tendencies have been noted in some areas, such as the key priority of the fight against organized crime, thanks to the law-enforcing operations, human traffic and economic crime, and for seizing drugs in Lazarat and Northern Albania. The cultivation and trafficking of cannabis remains a serious concern, according to the document.

The report says that the basic rights are mainly respected. The legal structure for the disabled people was reviewed, but it needs to be implemented.

The dispositions for gender discrimination should be removed, and the inter-institutional capacities for protecting children need to be reinforced. The country needs to focus on implementing the measures for involving the Roma and defending the vulnerable groups. The unresolved property issue is still a concern, together with the functionality of the Audiovisual Media Authority.

“Protection of property rights needs reinforcement, including the review of the 2012 strategy for the property reform, by adding security for legal ownership of properties”, the report says.

The EU enlargement is followed by the respective progress reports for the Balkan countries and Turkey. The European Commission analyzed that these countries face similar challenges in the rule of law, the judiciary, the public administration, the independence of institutions, the media, economic governing and the fiscal reform.

Prepared by: ARTA TOZAJ

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