Justice System Reform in Albania: Achievements, Challenges, and the Path Forward

Abstract

The justice reform adopted by the Albanian Parliament on 22 July 2016 ranks among the boldest post-authoritarian reconstructions of a judicial system. By revising roughly one-third of the Constitution and enacting more than twenty-five enabling acts, the reform set out to eradicate systemic corruption, insulate the courts from political interference, and align Albanian institutions with European-Union rule-of-law standards. Nearly a decade later, this article appraises the design and implementation of that reform. Blending doctrinal analysis, process-tracing, institutional statistics, , and comparative benchmarking, it examines (i) the performance of new governance bodies—the High Judicial Council, High Prosecutorial Council, High Inspector of Justice, and Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK); (ii) the impact of the extraordinary vetting process that removed or induced the resignation of more than half of all magistrates; and (iii) the repercussions for case-flow management, procedural duration, and public confidence. Integrity and accountability have risen markedly, yet stubborn inefficiencies, resource gaps, and latent political pressures persist. Consolidation will require sustained investment, full digitalisation, stable financing, and deep cultural entrenchment of judicial independence.

Received: 20 April 2025 / Accepted: 2 June 2025 / Published: 25 June 2025