Financial Crime World

Parliamentary Committee Unveils Sweeping Reforms to Combat Corruption

A landmark report by the parliamentary committee has proposed far-reaching reforms to strengthen anti-corruption efforts in Albania. The comprehensive package of measures aims to enhance the effectiveness of the Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office (APO) and ensure that it is better equipped to tackle corruption at all levels.

Key Proposals

  • Expansion of APO’s Mandate: The committee proposes expanding APO’s mandate to include supervision of criminal investigations conducted by the National Agency for Civil Service (NAC). This would allow APO to exercise greater control over anti-corruption efforts and ensure that they are carried out in a more effective and efficient manner.
  • Greater Autonomy for APO: The committee recommends giving APO greater autonomy, including the authority to employ its own staff and conduct special investigation measures such as wiretapping and physical observation. This would enable APO to carry out its work without interference from other authorities.
  • Abolition of Article 307 of the Criminal Code: The committee proposes abolishing Article 307 of the Criminal Code, which deals with wilfully rendering a judgement, sentence, decision or ruling in breach of the law. The committee argues that this article is no longer necessary and could be seen as creating confusion among judges and prosecutors.
  • Changes to Law on Specialized Prosecution Offices: The report calls for changes to the Law on Specialized Prosecution Offices to allow the heads of specialized prosecution offices to select their own teams of prosecutors. This would give APO greater flexibility in terms of personnel and enable it to respond more quickly to emerging corruption threats.
  • Employment of Specialists: The committee recommends granting APO the authority to employ specialists such as banking experts, IT specialists, and interpreters, which would enable it to carry out its work more effectively.

Reactions from Anti-Corruption Campaigners

“These reforms are a major step forward in the fight against corruption,” said an anti-corruption campaigner. “They will give APO the tools and resources it needs to tackle corruption at all levels and ensure that those responsible for corrupt acts are held accountable.”

Next Steps

The committee’s report is expected to be debated by parliament in the coming months, with the aim of implementing the reforms as soon as possible. The proposed reforms have been welcomed by anti-corruption campaigners, who believe they will help strengthen the fight against corruption in Albania.