As delivered by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Your Excellency, Mr. Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania,
Ms. Elisa Spiropali, Speaker of the Parliament of Albania,
Mr. Fatmir Xhafaj, Chairman of the Special Parliamentary Committee,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me take you to the future. The year is 2030. Albania is now a member of the European Union.

All the long, hard work of reforms has paid off.

We at the Council of Europe have been there from the start.

We know that this future didn’t happen by chance. It happened because of hard work and brave choices made you, sitting here today.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Albania’s reforms in anti-corruption, good governance, and the rule of law.

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This year marks 30 years since Albania joined the Council of Europe.

Since then, we have supported reform, monitored progress, and helped build strong, independent institutions.

Today, I want to take a moment to recognise just how far the country has come.

From judicial reform to specialised anti-corruption institutions, Albania is showing the courage to take on the hard issues.

The Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure (SPAK) is doing its job — with investigations, prosecutions, and convictions, even in high-level cases involving high-profile politicians and officials.

The vetting process for judges is a success story. Despite causing some short-term capacity challenges, it has helped reinforce integrity and accountability within the judiciary.

In 2023, Albania was removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. And in 2024, it adopted a national strategy on anti-money laundering, showing real political will.

And the result speak for themselves: According to GRECO, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption group, Albania has addressed 87% of its recommendations across five evaluation rounds.

Since the end of 2020, Albania has taken swift legislative and administrative steps to meet the recommendations from GRECO’s 5th round — especially when it comes to the police.

And as MONEYVAL prepares for its 6th evaluation round, Albania is getting ready to show that integrity and transparency apply across the board — including in financial systems.

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But the main point is that progress is real and substantive. But it needs to be nurtured — and taken even further.

The justice system continues to face structural challenges. Court proceedings remain lengthy. A high backlog of cases undermines efficiency and public confidence.

A national asset recovery strategy is still missing, and the draft law to establish the Asset Recovery Office remains unapproved. This limits the state’s ability to seize and manage illicit assets.

Whistleblowers are highly exposed to pressure. At the same time, the number of reports is still low. Without stronger protections, vital information risks staying hidden.

In addition, civil society organisations operate in a challenging environment — facing complex registration procedures and limited access to public funding.

It is clear that political polarisation weakens trust and hinder consensus. The Ad Hoc Parliamentary Committee on governance and anti-corruption reform is an important initiative. Its impact will depend on broader participation and respect for democratic checks and balances.

***

But robust laws and institutions alone are not enough. Elected leaders must lead by example — leaving no room for impunity. Or else, even the best anti-corruption strategy will certainly fall short.

That’s why strong political commitment, ethical leadership, and collective engagement — from public institutions, civil society, and the private sector — are so essential to ensure lasting reform, especially in times of uncertainty.

***

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Across Europe - democracy, the rule of law, and human rights - are under tremendous pressure.

Our values are being challenged — by disinformation, polarisation, economic insecurity, growing inequality and people getting disillusioned by the failure of our political institutions to deliver what they expect and hope for - and more.

At the same time Europe is tormented by a new major war, and once again haunted by an old ghost – violent aggressive nationalism combined with utopian dreams of reestablishing an empire.

As Prime Minister Rama wrote in a recent collection of essays on Europe’s future: “The rule of law, human rights and good governance are threatened by both geopolitical competition and violent nationalism.”

More than ever we need to stand together – and never forget that Ukraine is not only fighting for its freedom, but the future of Europe and a rule based international order.

At the same time, we see political forces that try to undermine our political institutions, fundamental rights and our democracies.

And we should never forget that democracy is not a destination, but a process that require a commitment and constant efforts.

That’s why the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has called for a new Democratic Pact for Europe.

The Pact is a collective commitment to defend, renew, and future-proof our democracies.

At its heart is the ambition to turn the ten Principles of Democracy that all leaders of Europe agreed to in Reykjavik, Iceland, into concrete action.

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Together, let’s make this moment a turning point.

Let us not only focus on only the obstacles, but the opportunities.

And let’s stand up for our values — with purpose and determination.

And let’s carry forward the relentless work of reform — for good governance, for the rule of law, and against corruption, in Albania and across all of Europe.

Thank you.