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The European Union and UNOPS launched in Albania the new EU-funded project “EU for Digital Justice: Support for the rule of law through digital transformation”.
This transformative initiative aims to assist Albania’s EU membership process by strengthening the rule of law and increasing confidence in the justice system in Albania through digital innovation.
With a budget of 7.5 million euros, the 4-year project aims to address critical challenges in Albania’s justice system, including outdated processes, fragmented case management, and limited use of technology.
The opening ceremony was attended by the EU Ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, the UNOPS manager for Albania and Kosovo, Sabine Kania, the Minister of Justice, Ulsi Manja, the General Prosecutor, Olsian Çela, as well as representatives of the relevant Albanian institutions.
The EU Ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, said that “the EU for Digital Justice project is a key moment in the implementation of the justice sector reform in Albania. It is also a key requirement of the first group-chapter, which sets the pace for Albania’s EU membership negotiations”.
“The creation of a modern case management system, in line with EU standards, will help judicial institutions improve their performance. Through this project and the overall EU support for justice reform in Albania, there is a main objective: to offer Albanian citizens a quality and efficient public justice service,” said Gonzato.
Sabine Kania, the UNOPS manager for Albania and Kosovo, said that “with this project, we aim to create a full integration of systems, processes, and data through digitalization in the justice sector. This will be the technological foundation to modernize the justice system, strengthen the rule of law, and above all, to build greater trust in legal institutions”.
Albanian Minister of Justice, Ulsi Manja, said that “our journey towards the EU is based on a radical transformation of the justice system, as one of the main pillars of the rule of law”.
The General Prosecutor of Albania, Olsian Çela said that “the world has already entered the digital age, characterized by rapid technological development, therefore the challenge of this project will be not just to establish an efficient and effective management system that meets current needs, but to look to the future, ensuring its effectiveness over a long period”.
This project is expected to contribute to achieving concrete results in justice reform, as well as provide legal professionals, the public, and civil society with faster, more transparent, and more accessible justice services.
The innovative project “EU for Digital Justice” will provide the necessary technological basis to drive long-term improvements and support Albania’s path towards EU integration by modernizing and digitalizing the justice system.
Over 48 months, the project will create a modern case management system for the Prosecution, enhance the capacity of the Information Technology Center for the Justice System, and implement business intelligence tools for data-driven decision-making.
This initiative aims to strengthen the rule of law, improve institutional efficiency, and offer faster and more transparent justice services, in line with EU standards.
The European Union is Albania’s largest development partner, providing over 100 million euros annually in grant assistance to support the Albanian people and help Albania adopt and implement key political, institutional, social, and economic reforms to adhere to EU values and progressively align with its rules. (January 24)