Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination

2.3 Anti-corruption
Indicator: Control of corruption
The EC Progress Report for Albania welcomes efforts made in the fight against corruption and indicates that
the perception of corruption has improved. The important indicator of control of corruption is measured by
the World Bank each year along with the five governance indicators. Figure 2 shows Albania’s performance
with regard to this indicator for the period 1996–2008, comparing it with other countries in the region in 2008.
Albania improved by 3.6 per cent over the previous year, but much remains to be done given that among all
countries in the region, Albania is ranked in penultimate place, behind Serbia and ahead of Kosovo. Another
important indicator of corruption is the corruption perception index measured by the non-governmental
organisation Transparency International. With regard to this index, Albania made tangible progress in 2008,
improving by 3.4 points its world-wide ranking to 85th place from 105th position with 2.9 points in 2007.
Figure 2. Ranking (2008) according to WB anti-corruption indicator
100
Percentile rank (%)
75
50
25
24.3 25.2 26.7
29.1
36.7
39.1
45.9
52.2
61.8
54.6
47.8
53.1
30
0
2000
2002
2004
2006
2007
2008
Bosnia &
Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Albania Other SEE Countries (2008)
Kroatia
Macedonia
Montenegro
Serbia
Kosova
Source: Governance Indicators, WB Institute
Albania’s reform in the fight against corruption consists mainly of measures of a preventive nature. For this
purpose, provisions of the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption were transposed into
the national legislation, and approximation of civil legislation with the Convention is proceeding smoothly.
Worthy of mention are ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, proposed amendments
to the law on prevention of conflicts, adoption of the law on cooperation of citizens and reward of denouncers
of corruption, adoption of the law on companies in April 2008 that is approximated to the CoE Convention on
Corruption. The reform aims at reduction of corruption in the sectors of line taxation, procurement, services to
businesses, universities, included in admission reform, all of which demonstrate most evident success. Hence,
a system was established that enables major taxpayers to pay taxes online, reducing corruption and business
costs in calculation, recognition and payment of financial duties. This system is being extended progressively
to include all businesses.
An on-line public procurement system was introduced to eliminate abuse with public tenders. Electronic
procurements during 2008 accounted for two per cent of all procured amounts, but in 2009 all public procurement
procedures shall be conducted on-line. This will reduce overall procurement costs, enhance transparency
and shrink corruption. National Registration Centre activity was consolidated and a legal framework for
establishment of the National Licensing Centre is in place. Next, it is planned to establish an electronic register
for construction permits and administrative courts, which shall play their role in strengthening further the
fight against corruption. The strike force against corruption in public administration has improved. In 2008,
there were 276 criminal corruption cases against public employees with 44 persons arrested. The crosscutting
Strategy for the fight against corruption and transparent governance, and its corresponding 2009 action plan
approved by government in October 2008, provide the guide and vision of this important reform.
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