Albania’s Constitutional Court has again urged parliament to resolve the dispute over reference salaries for judges and prosecutors, reiterating that its February 2026 ruling must be fully implemented.

In a statement Monday, the court said its ruling clearly established the constitutional standards and obligations of the institutions responsible for implementing them. Its decisions, the court stressed, are final and legally binding.

The statement comes amid a growing dispute over magistrates’ salaries after the High Judicial Council and High Prosecutorial Council set a new reference salary from August 1, while the Finance Ministry blocked the payments pending legislative action.

Prime Minister Edi Rama has argued that only parliament can approve the funds and formula for judicial salaries. Justice Minister Toni Gogu has likewise said the issue should be resolved with the opening of the new parliamentary session on September 8.

The Constitutional Court also addressed criticism over its own August payroll calculations, which were based on the funds available to the institution. It said that internal calculation could not be interpreted as altering the legal effects of its February ruling or the obligations of parliament and the government.

The dispute began after parliament failed to approve a new salary formula by the July 31 deadline set by the court. The KLGJ and KLP subsequently said they were required to act themselves and established a reference salary for magistrates.

The issue is now expected to return to parliament as lawmakers begin a new session, potentially putting the government at odds with the institutions governing judges and prosecutors over the final salary formula.