Ambassador Soreca's speech at the "Mid-term Strategy of the School of Magistrates 2019-2023" event

Dear Minister Gjonaj, Director Sadushi, Excellencies,

The justice reform is and will remain a key priority for the EU accession of Albania. The need to consolidate progress in this area was stressed by the Members States in last June's Council conclusions. Since then, considerable steps have been achieved, especially with the establishment of the High Judicial Council and High Prosecutorial Councils.

Now that the reform is delivering and that the transformation of the entire Albanian judiciary has become tangible, we need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the system being set-up.

The role of the School of Magistrates here cannot be underestimated. It is the core institution that will change the culture of the Albanian judiciary.

Having the right institutions in place, having the right laws into force will bring no result without the right people. Albania needs magistrates who are truly independent and have the strength and integrity to resist political interference and constant media pressure.

As was clearly demonstrated by the presence of Commissioner Jourová at the inaugural session of this Academic year last October, the School of Magistrates can count on the European Union as a strong ally:

1. EURALIUS is working together with the School on developing internal rules for recruitment, training curricula, and case law analysis.

2. The EU also supports the School through the Council of Europe "Horizontal Facility", with capacity building and training on European standards. When considering judicial cooperation in criminal matters with EU practitioners, Albanian magistrates should be trained to efficiently use the Council of Europe Conventions. These instruments are essential for our common fight against transnational organised crime.  

3. In addition, we are now ready to launch a flagship justice support programme of over 40 million euros. This will include a very significant component of Budget Support to the Justice Sector: 34 million euros over the next 3 years will provide funds directly to the budget of Albania.

Highlighting the importance of the School of Magistrates, two of the seven indicators by which progress will be measured relate directly to the School. They measure improved performance and improved capacities. These two indicators alone carry a value of practically 10 million euros.

Provided that results are achieved in the implementation of the Cross Sector Justice Strategy – for example on securing new premises for the School and an upgrade of its training activities – EU funds will be made available to support to these efforts. We have also foreseen to invest in the future premises of the School.  

Together with this programme, the EU will deploy capacity building and technical assistance for over 2 million euros, also benefiting the School of Magistrates. This is being prepared with the Ministry of Justice as coordinator. If the requests for specific support are well-defined and expressed, support can be provided.

The activities of the School should be well-coordinated, not least since several of its tasks are to be carried out together with other justice institutions, such as the HJC and the HPC. International partners, including of course the EU, are ready to help, but it is for the School itself to be in the lead coordinating this support.

The HJC and HPC recently set the number of candidates to be admitted to the initial training program for 2019-2020 to 75 candidates. For a long time, the EU had been calling for such an increase and we welcome this very positive step. However, we will need even more candidates as the justice reform and in particular the vetting progress.

In conclusion, I would like to congratulate you for the Mid-term strategy and, more generally, for your efficiency and commitment in improving the Albanian judiciary. Your responsibility in establishing an independent and quality judicial system is considerable. The School of Magistrates has the future of the reform in its hands – and the EU by its side.

Thank you.