Keith Self, Chair of the Subcommittee on Europe in the U.S. House of Representatives, addressed the stability of the Western Balkans during a recent hearing, focusing on Albania and its efforts to build an independent judiciary.
Self noted that the United States has long supported Albania in this endeavor but stressed that it is now time to evaluate whether the judicial reform is achieving its intended goals and providing impartial justice to the Albanian people.
“It should be concerning to all that the number of pending cases in the country has grown from approximately 16,000 at the start of the reform to around 200,000 today, leaving citizens to wait 8 to 15 years for a final decision,” Self said.
He added that these delays undermine the rule of law and erode public trust in the judicial system, highlighting the urgent need for reassessment and corrective measures.
