Corruption and abuse of the Albanian Government with EUfunds

There is a grave case of misusing EU funds by the Albanian Government, reported just a few weeks ago, causing theEuropean Commission to suspend funds due to serious corruption activities.

“The European Commission suspended Albanian agriculture funds due to corruption suspicions, the EU Delegation in Albania told reporters. The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA)includes support for IPA rural development programmes(IPARD), and aims to help EU candidate countries develop their respective agricultural industries. The current IPARD III programme had originally earmarked some 112 million euros forAlbania”. 30

The Albanian Government tried to downplay the decision calling it a temporary suspension. “European Commission has‘interrupted’ payments to the Albanian authorities under theIPARD II agricultural scheme pending the conclusion of an investigation by the anti-fraud office, OLAF, while the Agriculture Ministry said it is part of an administrative processand asked

the programme not be politicized”.31 OLAF was notified by several sources and had undertaken two fact-finding missions in Albania prior to taking this decision.32

28 https://www.oligarkia.al/virusi-qe-asgjesoi-antitrupat-e-shtetit/

29    https://balkaninsight.com/2023/07/31/timeline-the-crime-scandals-engulfing-albanias-ruling-party/

30 https://www.eu-ocs.com/albanian-agriculture-funds-suspended-amid-corruption-suspicions/

31 https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/albanian-agri-ministry-calls-for-non-politicisation-of-eu-funds- interruption/

32    https://www.syri.net/politike/609926/voa-be-nderpreu-fondet-per-qeverine-pas-hetimeve-per-korrupsion/

 

In fact, the gravity of the case was soon disclosed, and media reported appalling misuse of EU funds.33 “EU suspends funds for Albanian agriculture, corruption is at very high levels”

“The European Commission has informed the Government of Albania that it has undertaken preventive measures based on preliminary information provided by the European Anti-FraudOffice [OLAF], following an investigation over corruption allegations during the implementation of IPARD II[programme],” the Delegation told reporters. “Corruption in Albania is widespread”.