Representatives of the Albanian High Judicial Council visit Spain

As part of the work being carried out by Albania to complete the process of accession to the European Union, one of the issues on which it is working is justice, and to this end representatives of the High Judicial Council of the Balkan country have visited Spain to learn first-hand about the functioning of their counterparts in the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ).

The visit took place within the framework of the EU4Justice project with the aim of strengthening the capacity of the High Judicial Council to exercise its competences, especially in the fight against corruption and organised crime.

To this end, exchanges on the operational frameworks and best practices of both judiciaries have taken place. By observing and understanding the Spanish model, the High Judicial Council can identify effective strategies and methodologies that can be adapted to the Albanian context, thus enhancing its institutional capacity. Similarly, the Spanish CGPJ will be able to understand and learn from the Albanian functioning.

The delegation was able to visit the two headquarters of the CGPJ in Madrid, where, in addition to presenting an overview of the functioning of the CGPJ, its plenary and commissions, they exchanged experiences in the management of human and material resources, continuous training, judicial inspection and the Citizen Attention Unit. They also visited the Supreme Court, which is of special interest to the High Judicial Council as judicial infrastructure is a strong point that is being worked on in Albania.

Before continuing its visit to Barcelona, the delegation visited the FIIAPP’s facilities, learning first-hand about its operation and the actions implemented in the countries of the Western Balkans, in which the interest in the accompaniment carried out in the processes of accession to the European Union with other countries in the region was highlighted.

In order to make progress towards accession, Albania must intensify key reforms in the rule of law, the fight against corruption and the defence of fundamental rights. For its part, the Albanian delegation has expressed its satisfaction with both the Foundation and the Spanish public talent specialists with whom they work on a daily basis in Albania. In the words of the President of the Albanian High Judicial Council, Ilir Rusi, this is a collaboration in which they are willing to continue, not only now, but also in the future.

The visit ended at the Barcelona Judicial School after sessions on the selection and training of judges and on supervised internships. Both are of great importance for the High Judicial Council, as the Albanian judicial system has been undergoing a process of analysis for years, which has led the country to restructure a large part of its human resources.

This visit was not only a learning experience, but also a step towards building a more transparent, accountable and efficient judicial system, which is vital for Albania’s democratic development and its integration into the European Union.