Albanian judges and prosecutors have improved their ability to investigate high-level corruption, money laundering, and organised crime while respecting human rights. As a result of two consecutive training sessions, they are better equipped to apply the standards of the European Court of Human Rights (the Court) in their work, ensuring that investigations are effective and fair.

The trainings, organised by the European Union and the Council of Europe Action against Economic Crime in Albania in close co-operation with the Albanian School of Magistrates were attended by 60 prosecutors and judges of the general jurisdiction, as well as the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organised Crime, the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal against Corruption and Organised Crime.

The sessions deepened participants’ understanding of the practical application of the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights within the Albanian judicial system, in particular with regards to Articles 5 on the right to liberty and security; Article 8 on the right to private and family life; and Article 1 of Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights on the right to property. Discussions covered important topics, including the challenges of balancing respect for human rights and the public interest with the need for effective investigations. They also focused on asset investigations, security measures, preventive seizure and confiscation, as well as the admissibility and use of evidence derived from special investigative measures.

During the training sessions, judges and prosecutors had the opportunity to engage in an in-depth dialogue with the Judge of the European Court of Human Rights - Mr Darian Pavli, elected in respect of Albania, andh other representatives of the Registry of the Court. They tackled the functioning of the Court, decision-making processes, types of judgements, and various knowledge-sharing platforms. These trainings provided participants with valuable insights into the reasoning behind the Court’s decisions, ensuring a more informed and effective application of its standards in addressing complex cases of corruption and organised crime.

This activity was organised by the Action against Economic Crime in Albania, as part of the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye.