Vetting process Concludes/ Deputy Prime Minister Koçiu and Ambassador Gonzato Say Established Standards Must Be Maintained

Today marked the end of the transitional re-evaluation procedure for judges and prosecutors (vetting), one of the most important reforms to the judicial system and Albania’s European integration. The occasion was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu, Minister of Justice Toni Gogu, Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi, European Union Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato, and representatives from justice institutions and international partners.
In her speech, Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu commended the transitional re-evaluation process as one of the most significant improvements to the justice system and Albania’s European route. The procedure, which began about a decade ago, sought to restore residents’ trust in justice by evaluating the assets, integrity, and professional skills of over 800 judges, prosecutors, and legal consultants. She highlighted that the expiration of the interim vetting institutions’ mandate should not be interpreted as the end of the process, but rather as the start of a new standard in Albanian justice.
Koçiu remarked that vetting has given Albanian justice a fresh start, and that public trust is established by fair rulings and tangible outcomes. She noted that the government’s role remains to ensure the legal framework, resources, and conditions required for the justice system to function while maintaining its independence.
The ceremony also included a lecture by Silvio Gonzato, the European Union Ambassador to Albania, who described the vetting process as an exceptional reform in terms of scale, complexity, and ambition. He emphasized that the European Union and other partners have helped Albania throughout the process through the other Monitoring Operation, which has provided knowledge, oversight, and ongoing assistance.
Gonzato applauded the process’s outcomes after nine years of adoption, stating that all first-instance cases had been completed and all appeals had been thoroughly reviewed. According to him, hundreds of judges and prosecutors were re-evaluated based on their assets, integrity, and professional skills, hence increasing accountability and responsibility within the legal system.
The EU Ambassador also praised the efforts of the Albanian institutions involved in the process, particularly the Independent Qualification Commission, the Special Appeals Chamber, Public Commissioners, and supporting institutions.
In conclusion, Gonzato emphasized that the completion of vetting does not mark the end of justice reform, but rather a transition to a phase in which the main challenge is to maintain and consolidate the standards established during the re-evaluation process, with the goal of further strengthening citizens’ trust in justice.