Mr Dumani,

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

• It is my great pleasure to join you in celebrating SPAK’s 5th Anniversary. The establishment of a strong and independent institution to fight against organised crime and high-level corruption has been a crucial element in Albania’s justice system reform.
• Many of you have been around since SPAK’s first steps in 2019, displaying high-level of commitment and resilience, often in the face of limited human resources and in a country battling a culture of impunity and a history of political interference in the justice system. The EU along with US partners has proudly accompanied and supported your efforts since the very first day and will continue to do so.
• Organisationally, SPAK has developed a solid structure that can efficiently support all elements of its mandate: investigation, prosecution and adjudication of cases of high-level corruption and organised crime. This structure will also support the Chief Special Prosecutor in carrying out the new role in the vetting process.
• Operationally, SPAK has delivered good results in several high-profile cases. It has recovered millions of euro in assets from individuals and companies accused of corruption. Cooperation with EU agencies (EUROPOL, EUROJUST, FRONTEX EPPO, OLAF), as well as Joint investigations teams and joint operations with EU Member States have helped dismantle high-profile organised crime groups in Albania and abroad.
• Within only a few years, SPAK has become a synonym for Albania’s success. This has been recognised by the Albanian people who see SPAK as the most trusted domestic institution. This is a testament to your hard work and you should be proud of what you have achieved in a short time.
• But there is no room for complacency. The outcome of the EU accession process will largely depend on Albania's continued ability to fight organised crime and corruption through visible and consistent investigations and prosecutions and by seizing and confiscating illegally gained assets.
• Let me mention only a few avenues that can contribute towards this goal:
  • First, the recent appointment of the NBI Deputy Director does not only fulfil a legal requirement under the SPAK Law. It also paves the way towards the establishment of the Judicial Police Services that will assist investigators in carrying out complex and specialised investigations and support better coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
  • Second, increasing the efficiency of systematic financial investigations is one of the key areas where further improvements are needed, including through cooperation with the private sectors (banks, real estate agencies, and notaries). A critical role in detecting suspicious transactions potentially linked to money laundering or terrorist financing can be played by Albania’s Financial Intelligence Agency thus helping SPAK and the general jurisdictions fulfil their mandates.
  • Linked to this and the “follow the money” approach, is the setting up of an Asset Recovery Office, which is long overdue and is becoming a real urgency in order to better identify, trace and seize illicit assets.
  • Finally, it is essential to identify and address vulnerabilities within the system that create opportunities for misconduct and corruption. The new anti-corruption Strategy highlights the importance of targeted preventive measures, and a critical part of this effort is ensuring a clear legal framework. This is particularly important in complex and high-risk areas such as procurement, where legal ambiguities can lead to hesitation or discouraging officials from making decisions out of fear of repercussion (“freezing effect”). Providing legal clarity, coupled with robust guidance and support, will empower public officials to act confidently and transparently, reducing risks while ensuring effective public service delivery.
• All of this brings me to a broader point. SPAK is not and cannot be alone in the fight against high-level corruption and organised crime. It is important that SPAK can focus resources and further develop sophisticated tools on high-profile, complex cases and schemes with severe and extensive financial impact, and prioritise work on revealing systemic vulnerabilities and loopholes. Reinforcing public trust in the rule of law, demonstrating that nobody is above law and accountability, and decreasing the perception of corruption among ordinary citizens is the responsibility of all law enforcement and judicial institutions, including those from the general jurisdiction, and all political actors. It must be a coordinated, whole-of-society effort.
• There are important tasks ahead – not just for SPAK, but for the entire system, in full respect of existing institutional checks and balances, as guaranteed by the Constitution.
• But today is time for acknowledgment and celebration.
• Mr Dumani, ladies and gentlemen, thank you once again, we are by your side.