European Commission Condemns Political Pressure on SPAK Following Balluku Case

The European Commission has praised Albania’s progress in reforming its justice system, while also voicing strong criticism of political attacks against the Special Prosecution Office and other justice institutions. According to the annual Rule of Law Report, published on Friday, these positions are intended to exert undue influence on the judicial system.

The document stresses that the government’s and parliamentary majority’s reactions to SPAK investigations involving senior officials constitute inappropriate interference in the justice system and risk undermining citizens’ trust in institutions.

The report notes that the Special Court’s decision to suspend a high-ranking official from duty, made at SPAK’s request, as well as the Special Prosecution Office’s request to Parliament to lift the parliamentary immunity of the same official, were followed by strongly negative reactions from the executive and legislative branches. According to the Commission, these included direct attacks against SPAK and judicial institutions.

The judiciary’s governing institutions reacted publicly and condemned political pressure on the justice system. The Commission also recalls European standards, under which every branch of state power is obliged to protect and strengthen public trust in constitutional institutions, including the judiciary.

This assessment was published at a time when relations between the government and SPAK have become significantly strained due to investigations involving senior officials from the ruling majority, including former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku.

In recent months, Prime Minister Edi Rama and representatives of the Socialist Party have publicly accused SPAK of exceeding its powers, while warning of interventions in procedural legislation. At the same time, majority MPs submitted amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code aimed at expanding the categories of officials who cannot be suspended from duty during an investigation. The Commission also expresses concern about these initiatives in the section of the report dealing with the balance of powers.

The document also draws attention to Parliament’s refusal to lift Balluku’s immunity, as requested by SPAK in connection with the charge of violating equality in tenders. According to the Commission, this decision raised concerns about respect for checks and balances, as well as the principle of equality before the law.

Brussels warns that initiatives aimed at limiting the suspension of officials from duty during criminal proceedings could weaken the effectiveness of investigations, including those related to high-level corruption. The report also notes that the timing of these proposals could fuel perceptions of impunity.

Despite these concerns, the Commission maintains a positive assessment of SPAK’s work. The report states that the special structure continued to demonstrate independence and well-established capacity to deliver results in the fight against high-level corruption, although the media and political actors have reported attempts to discredit it, exert pressure and apply undue influence.

Another section of the document also highlights physical threats against prosecutors and judges during the monitoring period. As a result, eight magistrates were placed under protection. The Commission also mentions the system’s overload, particularly at the Court of Appeal, as well as other difficulties, including a lack of human resources.

Following the publication of the report, the Ministry of Justice focused its response mainly on the positive findings, unlike the attention the document gives to pressure on justice institutions.

In its statement, the ministry said this year’s report demonstrates the consolidation of the progress made in justice reform and Albania’s continued advancement towards meeting European standards in the process of joining the European Union.

The ministry stressed that the document assesses the completion of the transitional re-evaluation process, the results achieved against high-level corruption, and improved judicial efficiency. At the same time, it acknowledged that the Commission had also identified areas requiring further work to strengthen the rule of law.