Case involving former SHISH director raises questions for Albanian institutions ahead of new steps toward EU membership

The investigation into former State Intelligence Service (SHISH) director Vlora Hyseni has also drawn attention in European circles as Albania enters a decisive stage in its path toward European Union membership.

The case has renewed discussion about the security of classified information, the functioning of state institutions and how reforms are being implemented in practice.

According to an analysis published by EU Perspectives, the case is particularly significant because Albania has opened all negotiation chapters and begun provisionally closing some of them.

Hyseni is under house arrest and has been suspended from public office as part of a broader corruption investigation. The Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) imposed the measure on suspicion of disclosing classified information, while the proceedings are linked to corruption investigations at the National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI).

The allegations against the former SHISH director remain under investigation and do not amount to a finding of guilt by a court. Nevertheless, the position she held and the importance of the State Intelligence Service to national security have made the case particularly sensitive.

Brussels, meanwhile, has said it trusts the Albanian judicial institutions investigating corruption and organized crime. On September 25, European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said the European Union had “full confidence” in SPAK’s ability to uncover, investigate and pursue criminal proceedings for these offenses.

The European Commission did not directly answer whether the Hyseni case had raised concerns about the security of classified information or whether information shared between Albania and EU institutions might have been affected.

According to Brussels, communication with the Albanian authorities continues regularly, and the issues will be examined during the monitoring process.

The case became public at a time when Albania has made significant progress in membership negotiations. The country has opened all 33 negotiation chapters and begun the process of provisionally closing the first chapters.

In May, the European Union confirmed that Albania had met the interim benchmarks for Cluster 1, known as “Fundamentals.” This cluster covers democratic institutions, public administration reform, the rule of law and other areas related to the functioning of the state.

In July, three chapters were provisionally closed: Science and Research, Education and Culture, and External Relations. Albania has therefore opened all negotiation chapters and provisionally closed three of them.

The investigation into the former SHISH director comes shortly before the publication of the European Commission’s next report on Albania’s progress. The report is expected to examine developments in the rule of law, the fight against corruption and public administration reform.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is also expected to visit the Western Balkans, including Albania, from September 30 to October 2.

The visit is expected to focus on the next steps for countries in the region toward EU membership and their gradual integration into European structures.

The Hyseni case presents Albanian institutions with two main challenges: protecting classified information and demonstrating the justice system’s ability to investigate senior officials.

The investigation has not yet reached a final conclusion on these matters, but developments are expected to be closely watched as part of the European integration process, at a time when Albania must demonstrate not only that it has adopted reforms but also that it is implementing them in practice.