Albania - July 2023

The European Commission has suspended Albania’s funds for the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance for rural development (IPARD) as a preventive measure following corruption suspicions. The Commission declared that the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is investigating the case, and the Albanian authorities will be informed of the conclusions and the necessary measures accordingly. In a statement, Albania’s Ministry of Agriculture asked for the case not to be politicized, asserting that the programme is not interrupted, and that the measure is part of a completely administrative process for cases when verification of expenses is not in line with EU-established rules. IPARD aims to support EU candidate countries to improve agriculture through concrete financial and technical help. Out of a total of almost EUR 1 billion for the five EU candidate countries, the current IPARD III programme has allocated approximately EUR 112 million for Albania.

Sources: Balkan Insight, Euractiv, A2, ABC News

On 14 July, the Parliament voted to revoke parliamentary immunity of former Deputy Prime Minister and current MP Arben Ahmetaj, who is charged with corruption and money laundering. After the arrest warrant was issued, Ahmetaj reportedly fled the country, and is now internationally wanted. Ahmetaj was serving as an MP after being dismissed from his position as a Deputy Prime Minister (which he held twice) in 2022, following the conclusion of a Parliamentary Inquiry Committee regarding his involvement in a corruption scandal. The commission questioned top politicians, including Prime Minister Edi Rama and Tirana’s Mayor Erion Veliaj. Although high-level corruption is not uncommon in the country, Ahmetaj is one of the highest-ranking politicians ever to face such charges in Albania.

Sources: Euronews Albania, Top Channel (1), Top Channel (2), Balkan Insight (1),  Balkan Insight (2), Balkan Insight (3), Euractiv