Rama: The new package does not touch the justice reform, it strengthens court control over the prosecution’s powers

Prime Minister Edi Rama has stated that the new package of changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure does not touch any of the pillars of the justice reform, but aims to strengthen judicial control over how the powers of the justice bodies are exercised.

During the presentation of the package, Rama emphasised that the prosecution is not being stripped of any power in the field of wiretapping, searches, seizures, property investigation or international cooperation.

He underlined that for criminal offences related to corruption, organised crime, terrorism, trafficking, crimes with weapons or serious violence, as well as cases within the competence of the Special Court, special regimes will continue to apply.

“This package does not touch any pillar of the justice reform, it does not take away from the prosecution any power to wiretap, search, seize, investigate assets or cooperate internationally. It changes the way these powers are exercised and strengthens what we dramatically lack: court control over them. For corruption, organised crime, terrorism, trafficking, crimes with weapons or serious violence and Special Court cases, special regimes are preserved. This is a conscious choice, because the fight against corruption and organised crime cannot be softened in any way,” Rama emphasised.

Rama also clarified that the proposed changes will have no effect on closed cases. According to him, acts and evidence obtained before the package enters into force will remain valid.

He also addressed the review of the security measures currently in force, emphasising that the review within 60 days does not constitute an amnesty.

“This package does not reopen closed cases; acts and evidence obtained before its entry into force remain valid. The review within 60 days of the security measures in force is not an amnesty — it is individual control by the same court, case by case, with rights of appeal for the parties,” the prime minister declared.

The prime minister emphasised that the independence of justice institutions must be accompanied by respect for legal limits and clear reasoning in decision-making.

“The independence of justice is not immunity from the law; procedural control is not political interference — on the contrary, the more independent justice is, the higher the quality of its reasoning must be and the stricter the respect for the limits set by law,” the head of government said.

Rama said implementing the changes will also require strengthening the capacities of the justice system. He referred to Council of Europe assessments of the limitations in human resources, equipment and expertise in the judiciary, the prosecution and the judicial police. For this reason, according to the prime minister, the law will provide for a reasonable period before its effects begin. During this period, the training of judges, prosecutors, judicial police officers and lawyers is expected, as well as the adoption of the necessary implementing acts.

“The Council of Europe has left it to us in writing that the weight of these guarantees falls on a judiciary, a prosecution and a judicial police that have limitations in people, equipment and expertise. Recording in audio and video, control of digital evidence, electronic surveillance and data storage require infrastructure, funding and training. Therefore the law will have a reasonable period before its effects begin, which will be accompanied by the training of judges, prosecutors, judicial police officers and lawyers, with the necessary implementing acts and budget support from the Ministry of Justice for the new equipment and capacities,” Rama said.