The joint European Union and Council of Europe Action against Economic Crime supported the Albanian Ad Hoc Parliamentary Committee in reviewing and strengthening the draft Action Plan on anti-corruption, as part of the broader agenda to deepen reforms in the areas of good governance, rule of law and anti-corruption.

The review aimed to ensure that the Action Plan effectively addresses the gaps and challenges identified by international organisations, civil society representatives and academia with regards to Albania’s anti-corruption legislative and institutional framework, and its implementation.

The key findings and recommendations resulting from this process were presented and discussed with public stakeholders at the high-level parliamentary meeting  “2030 Albania in the EU – The Path of Reforms: Democratic Success as a Process and Lasting Commitment”, held in Tirana, Albania, on 3 April 2025.

The Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjǿrn Berge, participated in the opening panel together with a lineup of distinguished speakers, including Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, and Elisa Spiropali, Speaker of the Parliament of Albania. In addition, Hanne Juncher, Director of Security, Integrity and Rule of Law at the Council of Europe, addressed participants during the thematic session on the anti-corruption pillar.

Senior representatives and experts from the Council of Europe emphasised that to further strengthen Albania’s anti-corruption efforts and ensure long-term sustainability, it is essential to continue to align the legal framework more closely with the European standards. In particular, streamlining and harmonising legislation will help to clarify responsibilities among competent authorities and improve implementation while strengthening institutions through better funding, training, and cooperation between agencies will help to improve enforcement. Clear oversight roles, stronger monitoring, and better data collection will also boost efficiency, accountability, and public trust in Albania’s anti-corruption efforts.

The technical assistance to review the Action Plan was provided 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.