17/04/2024 Session
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, has decided to close the monitoring procedure in respect of Albania and engage in a post-monitoring dialogue with the country.
In unanimously adopting a resolution, based on the report by Ionuţ-Marian Stroe (Romania, EPP/CD), it stressed that “the protracted systemic political crisis in the country […] has recently started to subside”, and welcomed the reforms implemented, in particular the reform of the judiciary ”with a view to assuring its genuine independence and the efficient administration of justice”, as well as the administrative territorial reform which has strengthened the efficacity of local self-government.
The adopted resolution also highlighted the adoption of a new legal framework for elections, “based on an inclusive process and broad consensus between the political stakeholders”.
Furthermore, the Parliamentary Assembly noted significant progress made with regard to the fight against the still widespread and systemic corruption in Albania including the vetting of the judiciary
However, PACE expressed concern about the continued polarisation of the political environment, which undermines the country's system of checks and balances and limits parliamentary oversight. It also deplored the lack of implementing legislation for the 2017 Law on the protection of national minorities, and the deterioration of the freedom of the media.
Should no tangible and concrete progress have been made by the Albanian authorities in addressing the PACE’s concerns and recommendations with regard to “the fight against corruption, the protection of minorities, and media freedom and freedom of expression”, the Assembly expects its Monitoring Committee to consider, already in its first report under the post-monitoring dialogue, whether Albania should be returned to the full monitoring procedure.