High Inspector of Justice Artur Metani welcomed the general prosecutor of the Kingdom of Spain Mr. Álvaro García Ortiz, who is conducting a work visit to our country.
Mr. Metani presented the work and challenges of the Office of the High Inspector of Justice as the constitutional institution that deals with the verification of complaints, the investigation of disciplinary violations and the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against judges and prosecutors of all levels in Albania. The High Inspector of Justice informed Mr. Álvaro García Ortiz about the experience of the HIJ with the counterparts of the Justice Inspection Service of Spain within the European Network of Justice Inspection Services (RESIJ), about the bilateral relationship, which was formalized with a cooperation agreement a year ago, and also about the Spanish experts of the EU project, EU4Justice, who support the HIJ in terms of strengthening the professional capacities.
Mr. Álvaro García Ortiz after thanking Mr. Metani for the hospitality, expressed his considerations for the cooperation between the HIJ and the Spanish experts within the EU4Justice project.
Discussing the work philosophy of the HIJ, in finding a balance between the public interest in the administration of justice and respecting the independence of magistrates, the High Inspector of Justice and the Prosecutor General of the Kingdom of Spain shared the opinion that the independence of magistrates remains the foundation that supports the pillars of the rule of law and a key element for the functioning of any democracy, being crucial for Albania’s journey towards membership in the European Union.
The interlocutors underlined that the independence of every judge and prosecutor is a guarantee for the constitutional rights of every citizen, to prevent any violation of those rights by the executive and legislative power. The contribution of each institution to an independent justice system is also essential for strengthening the public confidence in the rule of law.