The International Monitoring Operation (ONM) today responded to question raised by the Albanian media, including Exit, regarding the the continuation of the selection process of qualified candidates for the three constitutionally mandated vetting institutions, the Independent Qualification Commission (KPK), the Appeals College (KA), and the Public Commissioners.
Last week, Parliament returned the lists of qualifying and non-qualifying candidates, as well as the ONM recommendations, back to the National Ombudsman in order to reopen the application period for an additional seven days. The National Ombudsman, however, has refused to open the sealed envelopes with the documents, and has stated only to reopen applications once Parliament has broken the seals.
Exit asked the ONM whether the international operation would also vet any additional candidates, should Parliament decide to reopen applications. The ONM, however, appears not to have been officially informed by Parliament about the reopening of the application process.
Because the ONM does not respond to individual queries, it posted a general response on its website:
What happens if deadline to complete applications to the vetting institutions is eventually open again, will the IMO [=ONM] going to monitor procedures again? What is the position of the IMO regarding the recent decision of Parliament? Will new documents (those received within the current 7-day period) also be reviewed under the IMO monitoring before the National Ombudsman returns them to Parliament?
The IMO continues to follow closely the developments related to the nomination of the vetting institutions. The IMO reiterates that the work by the assessment committee at the Ombudsperson Office was carried out thoroughly and professionally.
Based on this positive findings and following the work by the international observers, on 3 March, the IMO handed over to the Ombudsperson a request to transmit before the Parliament of Albania the reasoned assessment and recommendations, which was developed by the IMO within the timeframe foreseen by law.
The IMO is aware, though not officially notified, that the Parliament of Albania has engaged with the Ombudsperson office, seeking possibilities for further checks of incomplete application dossiers. The Constitution of Albania and the law on the vetting clearly entrust the IMO to monitor the vetting process throughout. The IMO stands ready to deploy its expertise, as relevant and in line with the relevant legal framework.
Any additional candidates that would apply in any “second round” would therefore be also vetted by the ONM.
Another response came to the question whether the implementation of vetting will be blocked if the opposition continues to boycott Parliament. Even though the ONM didn’t answer directly to this question, it stated that “[d]elays would be detrimental to these processes, in addition to further delay the European path of Albania.”
Is the vetting blocked if the opposition in not voting? Is there a chance for the members of the vetting institutions to be elected only after the general elections of 18 June?
Overall, the IMO remains a technical monitoring endeavour, as such, it is not up to the IMO to take stances on specific current political developments.
The launch of the IMO was carried out timely and with the involvement of the necessary relevant expertise. Such readiness and commitment have to be intended as a clear message to all competent Albanian authorities and institutions, but most importantly, to all citizens throughout the country: the International Community is ready to do its share and guarantee that the vetting process is carried out in the interest of Albanian citizens at all stages. Implementation of the vetting process is crucial to the success of justice reform and to irreversibly strengthen professionalism throughout the judiciary. This is crucial to achieve the entrenchment of the rule of law in the country, but not only. The expected positive impact of justice reform also falls in the area of socio-economic stabilisation across the country. Delays would be detrimental to these processes, in addition to further delay the European path of Albania.
