EURALIUS in collaboration with the Directorate General of Codification and Harmonisation of Legislation is delivering a series of specialisation trainings for the staff of the Directorate, which focus on the following topics:

• Constitutionality Checking – Constitutional Court Case Law
• Legislative Technique
• Interpretation of national law, with focus on fiscal law
• Interpretation of EU law
• Sublegal and other Administrative Acts
• Constitutionality Checking – Fundamental Rights
• Compliance of National Law with International Agreements

EURALIUS in cooperation with the High Justice Inspector (HJI), elaborated and published a Manual on Disciplinary Investigations against Judges and Prosecutors. It is a joint product of EURALIUS and of the HJI, a long attended and advantageous tool.

The Manual is a comprehensive instrument designed to facilitate the challenging work of the HJI during disciplinary investigation of alleged misconducts of judges, prosecutors and members of the Councils.

EURALIUS and the High Justice Inspector (HJI) organized a two day capacity and team building retreat on 20 and 21 May 2021 in Korca. Representatives of OPDAT also participated.
The scope of the training was the elaboration of a Methodology for Thematic and Institutional Inspections. The training included presentations and discussions on:  

•     Legal Framework for thematic and institutional inspections of Courts and Prosecution Offices
•     Lessons learned from inspections of predecessor inspection services in Albania  
•     Best practices and international standards on thematic and institutional inspections
•     Proposals for the scope of concrete thematic and institutional inspections 

EURALIUS, an EU funded project has completed the setup of the required equipment for remote hearings for SPAK Court of First Instance. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, members of the press as well as general public are not able to participate in court hearings. As such SPAK Court of First instance is currently facing issues in handling a significant number of enquires received from members of the press.
A respective Normative Act provides the necessary legal foundation for remote hearings.

On 15 and 16 April 2021 EURALIUS, in cooperation with the Office of the High Justice Inspector (HJI), organized further training sessions for inspectors, legal advisers and legal assistants.   

These activities aimed at establishing common standards in the preparatory phase of the disciplinary investigation and after opening the investigation. The training was the opportunity to exchange views regarding the interpretation and implementation of the legal provisions and to agree on the joint approaches and on lines of action.  

Based on the findings and conclusions of both training sessions the HJI will formalize the agreed standards which shall be followed by all members of the HJI staff.

On 12-13 April 2021 EURALIUS in cooperation with the School of Magistrates, Italian Project CSM/AICS and PAMECA V organized two days online training on sequestration and confiscation of assets under the Anti-Mafia Law. At the training were held presentations on the international practices and on the Albanian case law such as: International Conventions on sequestration and confiscation of assets of anti-corruption and other criminal offenses; Operational models and Investigative strategies concerning asset investigations and non-conviction-based confiscation: Practical Case studies according to the Italian Experience and Sequestration and confiscation of assets under the Albanian Anti-Mafia Law and problems of the case law. This training served to share national and international experience on sequestration and confiscation of assets and discussed measures as a tool to combat organized crime. Training was attended by circa 30 magistrates who participated lively in the discussions and showed high interest for the topic.

On 11 March 2021 EURALIUS in cooperation with the School of Magistrates, the PAMECA V Project and the Italian Project CSM/AICS organized one day online training on Terrorism Criminal offenses in the field of terrorism and connection with organized crime. At this training the Judge at the International Criminal Court delivered a presentation on International Terrorism in practice: Criminological patterns and legal models. While, Expert from the Italian State Police, introduced Italian approach and experience in the link between terrorism and organised crime. Classification of terrorist groups, their profiles and criminal background, features of terrorist groups in Italy, and their evolution were some of the issues introduced to the target group. He also described the responsible law enforcement institutions and dedicated structures involved in the fight against terrorism in Italy. The training was attended by about 20 judges and prosecutors of general jurisdiction and Special Prosecution and Court against Corruption and Organised Crime, who were involved in lively and professional discussions.

On 23-24 March 2021 EURALIUS in cooperation with the SoM, Italian Project CSM/AICS and PAMECA V organized two days online training on Proactive investigation in the fight against corruption, financial crime, and public procurement. At the training EURALIUS STE Expert, presented a concrete case of high-level corruption, ‘Fimi Media case’. The presentation focused on manners of proactively starting the investigation of a high-level corruption case and the investigation of misuse of public procurement in financial crime. While, the PAMECA V Expert, presented an overview of new investigation tools against offences related to public administration, proactive investigations techniques, role and duties of undercover agents, and Italian whistleblowing system compared to Albanian system. This training served to share national and international experience in conducting efficient and independent investigations by applying various new investigation techniques and concrete tools and methodologies to improve international cooperation and institutional coordination among law enforcement agencies. Training was attended by 25 magistrates who participated lively in the discussions and showed high interest especially for investigation techniques and methodologies used in EU countries and were eager to be acquainted with the jurisprudence of the ECHR on special investigation techniques introduced by Experts.

On 24 March, an inauguration ceremony was held in the premises of the High Court in honour of the four newly appointed members of the courts, Judges Sokol Binaj, Albana Boksi, Sander Simoni and Klodian Kurushi.
EURALIUS representatives were invited in this event and expressed the willingness of the project to continue supporting the efficient organisation and performance of the High Court.
EURALIUS has been supporting the High Court and the other beneficiaries in the elaboration of the recently adopted amendments to the Procedural Codes as well as Status Law and Judicial Power Law with the aim of harmonising and simplifying the procedures of adjudication at the High Court, in view of ensuring an expedient delivery of justice, while safeguarding a robust and transparent process.

EURALIUS in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and the Free Legal Aid Directorate have elaborated a Legal Aid Manual, which aims at supporting practitioners in the application of the legislative framework governing legal aid.
The Manual outlines all the procedural steps required to be undertaken in court proceedings in relation to legal aid. In addition, the manual addresses common questions of application as well as questions relating to the appointment of advocates once secondary legal aid was granted.