The European Union says it is aware of new internal regulations introduced by Albania’s Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO), amid growing public debate over restrictions on media access and the transparency of court proceedings.

The new rules, which set tighter security, order and conduct requirements inside the court premises, have raised concerns among journalists and media organizations, who argue that they could significantly limit their ability to cover ongoing proceedings and access information.

In a response provided to Report TV, the European Union confirmed that it is closely monitoring the issue and is assessing the new regulations in the context of Albania’s judicial reforms and its EU accession process.

“The European Union is aware of a new internal regulation on security, order and rules of conduct within the premises of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organised Crime (GJKKO), which takes into account the particular organisational, operational and security characteristics associated with the GJKKO and its judicial proceedings,” the EU said.

Brussels stressed that it is seeking to ensure a proper balance between security measures and the public’s access to information, as well as transparency in judicial proceedings.

“The EU is ready to continue providing specialised expertise to both the judiciary and the media community, in support of finding a fair balance between security measures and access to information and transparency of judicial proceedings, in line with European standards and principles,” the statement said.

The EU also confirmed that it will continue to closely monitor developments surrounding the rules as part of Albania’s ongoing EU accession negotiations.

The controversy comes as GJKKO remains at the center of Albania’s efforts to tackle corruption and organized crime, making transparency and media access to its proceedings a particularly sensitive issue.

The debate is expected to continue as authorities, journalists and European partners weigh the court’s security requirements against the principles of public access, press freedom and judicial transparency.