New judicial reforms pass to meet EU requirements

Albania made significant strides in judicial reform to align with European Union (EU) requirements - a critical step in its ongoing EU‑accession process. As part of a deep overhaul under the “Rule of Law” roadmap, Albania’s independent vetting body, Independent Qualification Commission (KPK), completed the review of all 805 judges and prosecutors, dismissing a substantial number for failing to meet integrity and performance standards. Simultaneously, key self‑governing institutions of the judiciary - including High Judicial Council (HJC) and High Prosecutorial Council (HPC) -filled their civil‑society‑negotiated memberships and became fully operational. The government also approved a new cross‑sectoral Justice Strategy for 2024–2030 to strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the justice system. Additionally, with support from the Council of Europe and EU initiatives such as EU4Digital Justice, Albania began modernizing judicial administration through digital case‑management systems and improved court processes -reinforcing rule‑of‑law standards and laying the groundwork for better service delivery and fairness. These reforms have been broadly welcomed by European institutions. The EU sees Albania’s progress as a concrete demonstration of political commitment to the fundamental criteria for membership, especially regarding judicial independence, anti‑corruption, and respect for fundamental rights.