Justice reform / Minister Gjonaj holds online meeting with German Minister Christine Lambrecht

Minister Gjonaj expressed her gratitude and that of the Albanian Government for the strong support of Germany for the opening of negotiations. Minister Gjonaj praised the technical assistance that Germany has provided in reforming the rule of law and the judicial system through the German Foundation for International Legal Assistance (IRZ). She also thanked for the support of German ambassadors such as Mrs. Schultz and Mr. Zingraf, as well as experts who have supported the drafting of the reform and that it has been fortunate to collaborate as part of the working group.

Minister Gjonaj presented to her counterpart the progress of the implementation of the Justice Reform: Appointments to the Constitutional Court; Special Anti-Corruption Structure: SPAK, BKH, Special Courts; Vetting results as well as measures taken by the School of Magistrates to address the numerous vacancies in the justice system.

Minister Lambrecht expressed high interest in the justice reform process and expressed confidence that Albania is moving in the right direction. In Germany, the Constitutional Court enjoys a very high level of trust and its decisions are maximally respected, and it is very important that Albania has taken this very difficult but equally important path to restore confidence in the judiciary.

In the conversation, Minister Lambrecht addressed some questions to Minister Gjonaj regarding the vetting process and control; consultations; the criteria to be met to be part of the High Court; independence of the judiciary; young people involved in the judiciary and what the atmosphere is like for young people. Minister Gjonaj answered in detail all the questions of the counterpart, who praised the measures taken by Albania as financial treatment of judges for the importance of economic independence of the judiciary, restructuring and mechanisms established to guarantee the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and the consequence of actions for the implementation of this major project.

Minister Lambrecht says that IRZ has been in Albania for 20 years and they have a very good cooperation with the Albanian side and that it will support the extension of the project. It considers it important that under the leadership of IRZ the cooperation with EURALIUS VI continues.

Minister Gjonaj also thanked on behalf of the Albanian Government for the support and expressed her conviction that the continuation of the EURALIUS project would be necessary and that it is open for further cooperation. In her role as National Coordinator against Corruption, Minister Gjonaj also focused on the measures taken by the Albanian government to strengthen the fight against corruption as well as to increase the functioning of the Task Force and the Network of Anti-Corruption Coordinators and their importance, especially in institutions that have a high risk of being influenced by corrupt practices, with their responsibility to conduct inspections, receive denunciations, and refer to the Prosecutor any suspected case of corruption, or abuse of office.

The Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection praised the steps taken by Albania and assures Minister Gjonaj of her and the Federal Ministry of Justice support in projects that guarantee the strengthening of the rule of law and the independence of the justice system. She also praised the energy and consistency of Minister Gjonaj as impressive and invited her to a meeting in Berlin, wishing her to retain the post of Minister of Justice even after the elections.

The Minister of Justice, Gjonaj, thanked for the cordial words and said that she sees her function as a mission and not as a task and evaluates the Justice Reform as an important moment for Albania and for opening the way to the EU.

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