Albania’s Governance Dynamics: Insights from the Rule of Law Index (2012–2024) - Acta Universitatis Sapientiae

Acta Univ. Sapientiae, Legal Studies, 14, 1 (2025) 145–176

DOI: 10.47745/AUSLEG.2025.14.1.08

Abstract. Between 2012 and 2024, Albania’s governance trajectory has been strongly influenced by the country’s ambition to join the European Union (EU). Key legal and institutional reforms, particularly in the areas of judicial independence, anti-corruption, and transparency, have aimed to align Albania with the Copenhagen criteria and the broader EU rule of law. However, regional geopolitical pressures, economic instability, and persistent domestic challenges have complicated the implementation and sustainability of these reforms. This study analyses Albania’s governance using the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, which measures performance across six dimensions: Limited Government Powers, Absence of Corruption, Order and Security, Fundamental Rights, Open Government, and Regulatory Enforcement. While improvements were registered until 2015, particularly in terms of anti-corruption and transparency, these gains were followed by periods of stagnation and even decline due to internal systemic weaknesses and external shocks. The study thus underscores the interdependence of governance dimensions, demonstrating how the progress in transparency and anti-corruption has fostered public trust, while the setbacks in judicial independence and regulatory enforcement have exposed deeper structural deficiencies. Considering Albania’s path within the broader European context, the study argues that a sustainable rule of law reform requires institutional resilience, judicial and administrative independence, and consistent public engagement. It also examines how EU conditionality and external pressure, including requirements from the European Commission and the Council of Europe, have shaped Albania’s approach to democratic consolidation and the rule of law reform.

Keywords: Albania, governance, rule of law, judicial reform, anti-corruption, EU integration, democracy, institutional reform, transparency, public trust