On January 15, the Department of Political Science and International and the Department of Law
welcomed Ms. Erinda Skendaj, the executive director of the Albanian Helsinki Committee. The open  forum’s main theme focused on the vetting of judges and prosecutors in Albania. More specifically, the forum shed light into the legal perspective and the evaluation of progress by Ms. Skendaj.
In autumn 2014 the European Commission’s Progress Report highlighted for several times in a row the need for concrete interventions in the judiciary, as a measure to fight the high level of corruption in the system. Thus, the Albanian Assembly established the Special Parliamentary Commission on the Judicial Reform, which prepared the main analytical document underlining numerous problems in the judiciary, and emphasizing the necessity of legal amendments with the functioning and consolidation of the rule of law as its final aim. The high level of corruption in the judiciary impedes its functioning, and has affected the public trust toward it. At the same time, this situation has prevented further progress in terms of the European integration of the country. Three out of five priorities set by the European Commission were related to the judiciary. Namely, these priorities were the reformation of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The forum started by a brief introduction by Ms. Skendaj of the Reform on Justice. Later on, she
passed into a more in-depth explanation of the vetting process and the steps taken by the Albanian Helsinki Committee and the Albanian government. In addition, Ms. Skendaj carefully explained how certain processes did not fully accomplish themselves but as she later on said, the overall goal has accomplished much more important than certain technicalities. As the forum approached its end, students of Political Science and International Relations and students of Law started a fruitful and unfortunately unfinalized with Ms. Skendaj. The questions and comments from the audience upheld and maintained a good quality discussion. As she writes in her Linkedin profile, “It was a pleasure to be part of the open lecture with the students of Epoka University and to discuss with them the vetting process of judges and prosecutors in Albania. Vetting is a very valuable and also a complex process that in my perception has achieved some very good results, despite some challenges that needs to address better. I was surprised about the interest and very technical questions addressed by students on this topic, indicating their high level of knowledge on legal issues. I hope that the new generation of lawyers in Albania will be a very good example of integrity, in our society and especially in Justice System. On the other hand, we have to acknowledge the professional and moral integrity of several judges and prosecutors who are in the existing system and should be promoted with meritocracy”.

We are highly thankful of Ms. Skendaj for joining us on that day and we wish for more fruitful forums like this to come!