Hague, April 11, 2024
High Inspector of Justice Artur Metani conducted a work visit to the justice institutions in the Hague, Kingdom of the Netherlands, accompanied by the ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Artur Kuko, liaison prosecutor for Albania at EUROJUST, Ms. Fatjona Memçaj and members of the HIJ team. The aim of this visit was to get to know and have a professional exchange with the leaders and representatives of the justice system of the Netherlands, about the best practices of the rule of law as well as the challenges that the justice system has, not only in countries with a new democracy like Albania, but also in countries with consolidated democracies such as the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
In the meeting with the member of the Supreme Court, judge Marc Fierstra, part of the special body of the Supreme Court that deals with disciplinary measures against magistrates and at the same time the president of the Dutch Association for the Judiciary, the conversation focused on the need to talk about ethical issues of magistrates, on the discussions even within the justice community about various professional dilemmas, and most importantly the public’s trust in the independence of the system and towards other powers.
Mr. Metani and Mr. Fierstra shared the position that they have the same values for independence and the rule of law and that independence is not a prerogative of the judge or prosecutor, but a right of the citizens.
The experience with the practices of disciplinary proceedings were at the center of the meeting which the High Inspector of Justice had with the Prosecutor General of the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, Mr. F.W. (Edwin) Bleichrodt, as the institution that deals with, among other things, the violations of judges.
The High Inspector of Justice was welcomed in the premises of the High Judicial Council of the Netherlands, by the president of the Council, Mr. Henk Naves. After the mutual presentation of the functions of the two institutions, Mr. Metani and Mr. Naves focused on the issues of trust in justice, the integrity of magistrates and their independence.
The High Inspector of Justice also had a meeting with the President of the European Agency for Cooperation in Criminal Justice (EUROJUST), Mr. Ladislav Hamran. The President of EUROJUST expressed his appreciation for Albania’s achievements in the field of justice and underlined his willingness to help a new institution like the HIJ, whose achievements he was familiar with. President Hamran evaluated Albania’s contribution to EUROJUST through the first liaison prosecutor, Ms. Fatjona Memcaj.
After the thanks for the praise, High Inspector of Justice Mr. Artur Metani made a presentation of the functions of the institution and stated that the justice reform was a great trauma for the society but it was necessary and this was proven over time, since the independence of magistrates is an asset of the rule of law that is being cultivated in system.
Part of the work visit of the High Inspector of Justice in the Hague was also the visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, where Mr. Metani was welcomed by the Director for Europe Mr. Erik Weststrate and the team of the EU integration department of this ministry.
Diplomat Weststrate underlined that from the information received he was impressed by the numbers and results of Albania’s progress, while Mr. Metani noted that despite all the natural and expected difficulties, things are progressing in Albania and that the justice system is working and producing results. The High Inspector of Justice answered the interlocutors’ questions on concrete aspects of the work and functions of the HIJ. Ideas regarding opportunities for professional cooperation through the Dutch government’s programs for justice, were presented during this meeting.