Global graft perceptions survey shows Albania at bottom of region

Government blames corruption in judiciary for lack of progress in annual report.
TIRANA, Dec. 4 – Transparency International’s annual index on perceptions of corruption has ranked Albania worst in the region, listing it 110th in a list of 175 countries.
Albania’s index rating improved by two points from 31 to 33, but it still ranked last in Southeastern Europe, tied with Kosovo, Anri Bala, a representative of Transparency International in Albania, said in a press conference.
The index draws its conclusions on an array of international reports, including those by international business organizations in Albania. Representative of the organization said hundreds of cases when citizens say they face corruption and demands for bribes, were noted, as well as a major role was given to the cases presented by the media in courts.
Impunity for corruption and its wide spread in the administration and society is also mentioned in other national and international studies as a source for negative perceptions.
The Corruption Perceptions Index is the leading global indicator of public sector corruption, offering a yearly snapshot of the relative degree of corruption by ranking countries from all over the globe, according to TI. This year’s index ranked 175 countries/territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. The index draws on 12 surveys covering expert assessments and views of businesspeople. A representative of the Socialist-led government said Albania has taken steps to improve the ranking, but the government’s efforts are hampered by corruption in the justice system, which it does not control.
“From an in-depth analysis of the study is based on Corruption Index by Transparency International is clear that what makes Albania no qualitative leap in this index is linked to the high level of corruption in the judiciary,” said Minister Bledi ȵ詮
The government is trying to implement a major justice system reform, but critics have said that there should be a balance between fighting corruption in the judiciary and preserving its independence from the executive branch.
Corruption is one of the most disturbing phenomena in many areas of Albania. The European Union has listed the fight against organized crime and corruption in charge of tasks that left Albania in the integration process and the fulfillment of the criteria for candidate status.