The United Kingdom welcomes the significant progress since Albania’s last UPR.

We support Albania’s progression on justice reform to improve the integrity of its judiciary, combat corruption, and tackle the influence of organised crime following the adoption of legal reforms in 2016.

We welcome our bilateral judicial partnership with Albania, establishing educational exchange between our judiciaries. Further, we commend Albania for its cooperation on criminal justice in pursuit of the protection of the state and citizens from criminal interests.

We welcome the establishment of the Special Structure against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) in 2019, which has made progress in addressing serious cases of corruption. We urge Albania to remain steadfast on anti-corruption: strengthening the independence of its judicial authorities, including SPAK, to operate without undue interference or political oversight. 

The approval of a National Strategy for Gender Equality 2021-2030 to strengthen its gender equality framework is encouraging; we urge full implementation. We also welcome the creation of national shelters for survivors of domestic abuse, and a Reception Centre for victims of human trafficking.

In the year of Albania’s parliamentary elections, we urge Albania to put into practice all outstanding OSCE recommendations for improving the conduct of elections.