Council of Europe director general: Criminal Procedure Code amendments bring Albania closer to European standards

As part of the justice reform, draft amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code have been presented, aimed at aligning it with European standards and strengthening the rights of suspects and defendants.

Gianluca Esposito, Director General of the Council of Europe, described the drafting of a Criminal Procedure Code as one of the most important undertakings for any country.

“We are here today for this very important occasion. Preparing a criminal code is one of the most important undertakings in any country: the code does more than set technical rules — it determines how the state investigates, gathers evidence, conducts interrogations and restricts liberty. This code can help define rights, protect victims and support public trust in justice. Effectiveness in the fight against crime is not measured by the number of people involved, but by the measures put in place. The legal framework for this support rests on the European Convention; these are not abstract principles — we must have time limits, responsibilities and standards in the criminal procedure code. Over the past months, at the Prime Minister’s request, the Council of Europe provided support for this process, helping to align the draft with European standards of protection,” Esposito said.

Esposito also stressed the importance of setting time limits, responsibilities and clear standards in the Criminal Procedure Code, underlining that these must not remain merely abstract principles.

Referring to the proposed amendments, Esposito said they strike a balance within the reform package and are in line with European standards.

“The criminal code we are presenting today brings balance to the reform package as well, is in line with European standards, and strengthens the rights of defendants, suspects and the defence. This improvement shows the commitment of the Albanian authorities to continue with meaningful reforms and to align the system with EU directives and European standards,” he said.