The Democratic Party has called for the immediate termination of the €15 million tender procedure for the purchase of three firefighting aircraft, as well as the launch of an investigation by SPAK.

Genta Vangjeli, the Democratic Party’s anti-corruption spokesperson, said documents published in the media raise suspicions about the company declared the winner.

According to her, the company has been involved in court cases in Spain related to the manipulation of tenders and corruption in the firefighting aircraft sector.

Vangjeli said these circumstances run counter to the legal criteria applied to procurement in the defense and security sectors, and called for the responsibilities to be established.

In her statement, she emphasized that the publication by the media of documents and information about the €15 million tender, through which three firefighting aircraft will be purchased, once again demonstrates how Edi Rama’s government administers national defense and security, as well as Albanian taxpayers’ funds.

According to media reports cited by her, the Ministry of Defense has selected Air Tractor Europe S.L. as the winner, a company involved in court rulings in Spain concerning tender manipulation and corruption in the field of aircraft used to fight fires.

Vangjeli stated that the decisions of the Spanish judicial authorities, which concern corrupt damages of at least €150 million, together with the 2024 decision of the Supreme Court in Greece, prevent the company from participating in public procurement procedures in European Union countries.

She added that Albanian legislation also provides for similar punitive clauses.

1. According to Article 38/1 of Law 36/2020, “On Procurement in the Field of Defense and Security,” the contracting authority disqualifies any operator when information is available that it is or has been convicted by a final criminal judgment of a range of criminal offenses, including forgery, corruption and fraud.

2. The standard tender documents in the field of defense and security, in Annex 10, which must be completed by the participating economic operator and submitted to the contracting authority, require the bidder to self-declare, under its full responsibility, that it has not been convicted of any of the criminal offenses specified in Article 38/1 of the law “On Procurement in the Field of Defense and Security.”

Based on these circumstances, the Democratic Party called for the immediate cancellation of the procedure and an in-depth investigation by SPAK, with the aim of penalizing those responsible.

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Behgjet Pacolli has responded to reports that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has begun procedures to terminate the concession contract for Vlora International Airport.

The businessman warned that if the decision is confirmed, the case will be taken to international arbitration.

Pacolli said that MABCO Constructions SA has so far received no official communication from the Albanian authorities and learned of the development through media reports.

According to him, for a strategic investment of this scale, it is unacceptable for the investing company to be notified by the media rather than by state institutions.

He said MABCO’s financial exposure has exceeded €320 million. Pacolli also claimed that the company had fulfilled almost all the obligations arising from the contract as early as May and was close to obtaining certification for the airport when it was prevented from continuing the work.

According to the businessman, the delays and financial damage were caused by institutional obstacles, negligence and unlawful actions by the Albanian state. He described the situation as paradoxical, arguing that the institutions first blocked the completion of the project and are now attempting to use that obstacle as grounds for terminating the contract.

Pacolli announced that if the procedure to terminate the contract is formalised, MABCO will pursue all available legal avenues. These include commercial arbitration and international arbitration against the Republic of Albania.

According to him, arbitration should not be viewed as a threat, but as the legal consequence of a situation created by the unlawful actions and omissions of those responsible for upholding the law and protecting the investment and the public interest. Pacolli added that any financial costs arising from such proceedings would be paid by Albanian taxpayers, businesses and the state.

Full statement:

Vlora International Airport

Earlier today, news emerged that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy had begun the procedure to terminate the Vlora International Airport Concession Contract. To date, the Contracting Authority has not sent MABCO Constructions SA any official notification. For a strategic project of this importance, it is unacceptable for the investor to receive information from the media rather than directly from state institutions.

If the report is confirmed as true, this will mean that the Albanian state has chosen the path leading to international arbitration.

MABCO has made every effort to avoid this scenario by seeking dialogue, solutions through the institutions and respect for the law. However, these efforts have been blocked by the negligence, irresponsibility and unlawful actions of certain officials; by individuals who have acted and continue to act outside the legal framework under institutional protection; as well as by the failure of an influenced justice system to guarantee the investor’s protection.

MABCO’s financial exposure exceeds €320 million, excluding lost profits and legal expenses. As early as May, the company had fulfilled almost all its contractual obligations and was on the verge of obtaining certification for the airport, but it was prevented from continuing the work.

Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, MABCO was kept out of the construction site for several months while the State Police remained present there. During this period, valuable equipment was damaged and destroyed, while some of it was stolen.

This is where the paradox lies: on the one hand, the institutions prevented the project from being completed, while they now intend to present that same obstacle as grounds for terminating the contract. Such an action is contrary to the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Concession Contract and the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement between Switzerland and Albania. It also runs counter to the basic legal principle that no one may benefit from their own unlawful conduct.

If the procedure is confirmed, MABCO will use every legal remedy and all the evidence in its possession to hold accountable everyone who contributed to creating this situation. This includes commercial arbitration as well as international arbitration against the Republic of Albania.

At no point have I wanted Albanian taxpayers to bear the costs of the negligence, irresponsibility and unlawful decisions of certain officials. Despite this, they continue to show indifference, as though it did not matter whether Vlora International Airport began operating several months or several years late, and as though the economic consequences would not fall on the public.

Senior institutional officials act as though they bear no individual responsibility because they know they will not pay anything out of their own pockets. The costs will be borne by Albanian citizens, businesses and the state itself. This culture of impunity is seriously harming the public interest, trust in institutions and Albania’s investment climate.

Arbitration does not constitute a threat. It is the reality created as the legal consequence of the unlawful actions and omissions of those whose duty it was to work honestly, respect the law and protect the investment and the public interest.

MABCO has always acted, and continues to act, solely in accordance with the law, respecting it without compromise.

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The Kosovo Specialist Chambers has issued its Third Scheduling Order in the trial of Hashim Thaçi and others, who are accused of criminal offenses against the administration of justice. The order cancels the hearings scheduled for August.

The decision follows a notice filed by Smakaj’s defense on July 30, 2026, pursuant to Rule 131, stating that it would not present evidence at this stage of the proceedings.

The single judge hearing the case removed the hearings scheduled for August 17, 18 and 19, 2026, from the calendar. The deadlines previously set in the Second Scheduling Order were also canceled.

Meanwhile, the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) was given until 12:00 p.m. on August 4, 2026, to file a motion if it intends to present rebuttal evidence.

If the SPO does not file such a motion, the evidentiary proceedings will be closed and the case will move to the final stage.

The order also sets the following procedural deadlines:

August 24, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. – submission of final trial briefs, should the parties choose to file them;

September 4, 2026 – submission of responses, if any;

September 10, 11 and 14, 2026 – hearings for the presentation of closing arguments.

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The official cancellation notice explains that the main reason was the non-responsiveness of the only bidder that took part.

Only one company submitted a bid, proposing a price of around €40,000, but it was deemed non-responsive.

According to the Ministry’s reasoning, the economic operator failed to meet the criteria set out in the tender documents. Specifically, the proposed staff did not possess the necessary qualifications and technical skills.

Now, following the cancellation, it remains to be seen whether the Ministry of Defence will launch a new procurement procedure for this service at a later date.

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