Regulations governing lawyers inside Albania’s Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) could face scrutiny following the planned ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer.

Speaking Tuesday at the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice Minister Toni Gogu said the convention’s standards must be reflected in the laws and regulations of all justice institutions, including independent bodies.

The issue was raised by MP Arjan Ndoja, who questioned whether GJKKO’s regulation on lawyers could conflict with the convention. He also pointed to the ongoing boycott by the Chamber of Advocates, warning that the suspension of proceedings could affect pre-trial detention deadlines and defendants’ rights.

Gogu said he shared the concerns and that the Ministry of Justice was open to facilitating dialogue between the parties, while stressing that it could not exceed its constitutional and legal powers.

He added that, once ratified, the convention’s standards would become part of Albania’s justice system and would require institutions to review their existing legal and regulatory framework.