TIRANA, January 30 – Andreas Schieder, the European Parliament’s Permanent Rapporteur for Albania, held a press conference after completing his annual fact-finding mission in the country. He noted that Albania is at a critical stage in its European Union integration process. He praised the strong political commitment of Albanian institutions to EU membership.

Schieder said the country still faces several critical steps. These include strengthening the fight against corruption, decriminalizing defamation, and ensuring transparency in media ownership and funding. He stressed that these measures are essential for advancing reforms and maintaining public trust.

The rapporteur also addressed the justice reform. He described it as one of the most important pillars of Albania’s integration process. He highlighted the work of the Special Prosecution Office and called it essential that its operations continue without interruption. Other institutions must support this work to ensure integrity and confidence in public administration.

Schieder welcomed progress in the evaluation of judges and prosecutors. He said the European Union remains attentive to the completion of this process on schedule. He emphasized that any action undermining justice reform or the work of the Special Prosecution Office would severely damage Albania’s reputation. Protecting the continuity of reforms is vital for consolidating trust and sustaining the positive changes achieved in recent years.

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