Regional anti-corruption push: Albanian parliament presents integrity reforms in Montenegro

An Albanian Parliament delegation made up of MPs Milva Ekonomi, Antoneta Dhima and Kliti Hoti took part in the Regional Parliamentary Anti-Corruption Peer Clinic, held from September 24 to 26, 2026, in Bečići, Montenegro.

The event was organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in cooperation with the Parliament of Montenegro, with the main theme “Strengthening parliamentary integrity in the Western Balkans.”

During the two-day proceedings, representatives of the parliaments of Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia held practical discussions and exercises on identifying weak points in parliamentary structures. Particular focus was given to corruption risk assessment methodology in lawmaking (corruption-proofing), post-legislative scrutiny (PLS) and the role of oversight bodies in upholding codes of ethics.

During the plenary sessions, the Albanian delegation presented the steps taken by Parliament to align the legal framework with European standards, including the amendments approved to the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure in January 2025.

“Parliament has recently undertaken a legal package as obligations from GRECO’s recommendations, with the approval of the new conflict-of-interest law, the lobbying law and the two CPL and PLS methodologies,” MP Milva Ekonomi said. She stressed that risk assessment from the draft-law stage and ex-post scrutiny are essential tools for increasing transparency.

MP Antoneta Dhima, for her part, focused on implementing the Code of Conduct for MPs, calling for clearer rules and periodic training to avoid conflicts of interest.

“A Code of Conduct becomes effective when every MP, the parliamentary administration and the responsible bodies know what to do in a concrete situation,” Dhima said.

MP Kliti Hoti raised the issue of the proportionality of disciplinary measures against lawmakers, also referring to constitutional practices.

“The measures provided for in the Code of Conduct and the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure must be proportionate to the exercise of the constitutional function, ensuring the balance between accountability and the protection of the parliamentary mandate,” Hoti said, stressing the consequences that a long suspension of an MP could bring.

The meeting concluded with the participants’ agreement to deepen regional cooperation and further harmonize anti-corruption mechanisms along the EU integration process.