The European Commission, in its 2026 Rule of Law Report country chapter on Albania published on 22 July 2026, assesses that the country has made notable progress in judicial reform and anti-corruption efforts, but persistent challenges remain regarding undue influence on the judiciary, media freedom, and legislative quality. The report is part of the Commission's annual rule of law monitoring cycle covering EU member states and enlargement countries.
The chapter notes that the comprehensive vetting of all judges and prosecutors was fully completed in March 2026, resulting in 456 dismissals or terminations (57%) and 348 confirmations (43%). However, attempts of undue influence on justice institutions and personal attacks on magistrates, including against the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK), continued. Eight magistrates were placed under protection. The High Justice Inspector, responsible for disciplinary proceedings, faces a high number of vacancies, with only 10 out of 20 magistrate-inspector positions filled. In 2025, the Inspector registered 1,792 new cases and processed 1,635.
On anti-corruption, the report notes that the Anti-Corruption Strategy 2024-2030 is being implemented and that SPAK has delivered positive results in fighting high-level corruption. However, concerns persist over the independence of media regulatory authorities, transparency of media ownership, and verbal and physical threats against journalists. The report also highlights that a new Ombudsperson and Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination were appointed, but civil society faces discreditation and financial sustainability constraints.
The Commission's findings will feed into the broader 2026 Rule of Law Report covering the European Union, which is expected to be discussed by the Council and the European Parliament later this year. The report does not propose specific measures but serves as a monitoring tool to encourage reforms in Albania's EU accession process.