Albania improves significantly in the ranking of the Corruption Perceptions Index, published by Transparency International.

It is ranked 98 out of 180 countries included in the report for 2023. A significant improvement compared to the previous year, when Albania was in 101st place.

For 2023, Albania has received 37 out of 100 possible points, an increase of one point from the previous year where Albania counted 36 points.

"Albania has marked improvement in the investigation and prosecution of high-level corruption. The decision to establish a ministry responsible for anti-corruption comes with the expectation of effective integrity mechanisms", writes Transparency International.

"But further progress in this direction depends on further enforcement of criminal justice legislation and ensuring effective oversight of the executive branch," the report states.

This year, according to the organization, most countries have made little or no progress in the fight against corruption in the public sector. Transparency International says the world is experiencing a decline in the functioning of justice systems, and countries with weak justice systems have high levels of corruption.

"Corruption will continue to flourish until justice systems can punish violations and keep governments in check. When justice is bought or politically tampered with, it is the people who suffer the consequences. Leaders must fully invest in law-abiding and anti-corruption institutions and guarantee their independence. It's time to put an end to impunity for corruption", says the head of Transparency International, François Valérian, in the publication of the report.

Denmark leads the index for the lowest level of corruption for the sixth consecutive year with 90 points, followed by Finland and New Zealand, with 87 and 85 points respectively.

Somalia with 11 points, Venezuela with 13 points, Syria with 13 points, South Sudan with 13 points and Yemen with 16 points occupy the last places in the Index.

The region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia where Albania is a part has worrying results with an average of 35 points out of a maximum of 100 points, the second with the weakest result after Sub-Saharan Africa.

"The steps back in democracy and the weakening of the justice systems, which are quite widespread, are undermining the control over corruption, while institutions such as the police, the prosecution and the courts are often unable to investigate and punish those who abuse power", it is stated in report.

Among the countries of the Western Balkans, Albania ranks lower than Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro, while it has, respectively, one point more than Serbia and two more than Bosnia.

This subgroup includes Ukraine and Russia, and the report says that war and inflation have increased poverty levels, and it is therefore essential that leaders act for the common good.

"And yet there are countless examples of public officials who systematically influence policies and institutions to increase their power and steal public funds. "Leaders urgently need to strengthen the rule of law, rights and democracy, but in fact many of them are systematically attacking them," the report says.

"Across the region, many governments control the judiciary and law enforcement institutions maintain impunity for corruption for those in their privileged circles," says Transparency International, noting that for Georgia and countries in the Western Balkans, "these practices of are constant obstacles to membership in the European Union."

(Source: VOA)