The European Commission's progress report generally assesses Albania's progress towards integration, but reserves criticism for the role of the legislature in weak oversight of the government, the lack of dialogue and the dominance of the executive in the legislative process. The refusal to lift Balluk's immunity raises concerns about the violation of equality before the law.
The Commissioner for Enlargement in the European Commission, Marta Kos, presented on Wednesday before the European Parliament the progress report on Albania's progress on the path of integration, where the fight against corruption, the construction of independent institutions and the functioning of the rule of law are considered challenges for the country, while the progress of the accession negotiations is generally assessed as positive.
The progress report emphasizes the continuing weakness in the functioning of the institution of Parliament, with weak oversight of the executive, lack of political dialogue, and dominance of the majority in the legislative process.
The vote against the Special Prosecution's request for security measures against former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku is one of the reasons for this assessment, and is considered worrying by Brussels.
“After a long delay, Parliament voted against SPAK’s request to lift the immunity of a deputy, despite the opposition’s repeated requests for a meeting of the Council on Rules of Procedure, Mandates and Immunity. This raises concerns regarding the functioning of the mechanisms of checks and balances between the powers, as well as respect for the principle of equality before the law,” the report states.
Problems with the functioning of the legislature also include the politicization of appointments to constitutional and independent institutions, the non-implementation of some decisions of the Constitutional Court, and insufficient public consultations on adopted draft laws. Overall, the report highlights the lack of a comprehensive and effective functioning of the Assembly in exercising its constitutional responsibilities.
The report also criticizes the systematic rejection of opposition demands for the establishment of investigative commissions and the adoption of a territorial reform without political consensus.
Meanwhile, the Commission recommends as a matter of "urgent need" the implementation of a comprehensive electoral reform before next year's local elections.
Regarding the work of the executive, the Commission says that the government has focused mainly on EU-related reforms in its legislative and policy planning, but in some cases it has undertaken legal initiatives that are not in line with the EU acquis and European standards, including the adoption of an amendment to the Law on Tourist Ports.
The transparency of decision-making on European reforms has not improved and financial and human resources for their sustainable implementation remain insufficient.
The report raises concerns about verbal attacks and delegitimizing rhetoric against the judiciary and its members, both from the majority and the main opposition, questioning respect for the separation of powers.
Regarding local government, the new territorial reform voted by the majority is considered a re-centralizing trend and has created uncertainty for local self-government, while municipalities are financially dependent on the central government.
The European Commission considers the ongoing protests in the country as "the largest civic mobilization since Albania's democratic transition", while recommending that all parties make "sincere efforts to engage in a constructive dialogue".
Corruption remains a challenge, despite SPAK
The European Commission assesses that Albania has made good progress in the fight against corruption and the Special Prosecution Office is appreciated for its demonstrated independence and positive results in investigating high-level corruption.
However, the report notes that corruption continues to be a real challenge for Albania.
In this regard, Brussels calls for more final court decisions in high-profile corruption cases, final seizure and confiscation of assets stemming from corruption, more proactive referrals from state institutions to the prosecution, and more effective verification of asset declarations and conflicts of interest.
The EC recommends implementing preventive measures in sectors with high risk of corruption and strengthening the integrity and accountability of the State Police and the Police Supervision Agency.
Freedom of the media
The European Commission highlights that media freedom in Albania continues to face political, economic and legal pressures, while institutional mechanisms for the protection of journalists remain weak and insufficient to prevent intimidation and guarantee the punishment of perpetrators.
During 2025, media freedom organizations reported 42 cases of violations of journalists’ safety, including threats, smear campaigns, physical and verbal attacks, and SLAPP lawsuits. Investigative journalists and women journalists were disproportionately targeted, while impunity remains widespread due to a lack of effective investigations and prosecutions.
The report also criticizes the concentration of media ownership, the lack of transparency in public funding, and the connections of business groups with politics, which undermine media independence and pluralism.
“Self-censorship remains widespread, fueled by political pressure, legal threats and economic dependence,” the Commission notes.
There is also concern about the independence of institutions such as the Audiovisual Media Authority and Albanian Radio and Television and restrictions on journalists' access to public information.
Digital threats, misuse of personal data, pressures from owners and political actors, self-censorship and precarious working conditions remain significant issues, while the report recommends that Albania fully decriminalize defamation and align its legislation with the EU's anti-SLAPP framework.
Justice faces political pressure
In the rule of law chapter, the European Commission assesses that the independence and impartiality of the judiciary are generally satisfactory in high-level and first-instance courts, but raises concerns about inappropriate interference by public officials and politicians, including at the highest levels of government.
“Attempts by public officials and politicians, including at the highest levels, to exert undue influence over justice institutions, as well as personal attacks on magistrates at all levels, continued throughout the reporting period,” the European Commission stresses.
The report specifically refers to the negative reactions of the executive and legislative branches following the suspension from office by court decision of the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku.
Another institutional clash highlighted by the EC is related to the implementation of the Constitutional Court's decision on magistrates' salaries. The conflict between the government and the judiciary's governing bodies led to the blocking of justice budgets and the non-payment of judges' salaries for the month of August.
"This led to an unprecedented situation, which seriously affected the functioning of the judiciary and raised concerns about its independence," the progress report states.
The EC requires that the salary reform respect the European Commission's standards for the Efficiency of Justice, the principles established by the Constitutional Court, and include meaningful consultations with the judicial system.
Meanwhile, the vetting process is considered successfully completed, but it is underlined that the prevention of corruption after vetting must be strengthened throughout the judicial system.
The report also gives space to the problems of the functioning of the justice system with the lack of human resources and delays in issuing decisions in the courts.
“The efficiency of the justice system remains limited,” the report states./ BIRN
