INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH EUROPEAN UNION RE QUIREMENTS: ALBANIA'S PATHWAY TO EU ACCESSION

The purpose of this study is to analyse Albania’s institutional transformation in the fields of the judiciary, anti-corruption governance, and fundamental rights within the framework of European Union accession and compliance with European Union requirements under the Fundamentals cluster. The methodology is based on a qualitative and analytical research design combining document analysis, comparative institutional analysis, and theoretical interpretation. The study draws upon official European Commission reports, national strategies, legislative acts, institutional performance reports, and academic literature on Europeanisation, institutional change, and rule of law governance. The results demonstrate that Albania has achieved substantial progress in judicial reform, anticorruption mechanisms, and the protection of fundamental rights, particularly through the consolidation of judicial governance institutions, the strengthening of integrity systems, and the approximation of legislation with European Union standards in data protection, media freedom, equality, and children’s rights. The conclusions indicate that, although formal legal and institutional alignment is highly advanced, effective implementation remains uneven due to administrative capacity constraints, coordination challenges, and inconsistent enforcement. The study recommends strengthening operational capacities, improving inter-institutional cooperation, investing in professional development, and enhancing domestic ownership to ensure the long-term sustainability of reforms. Additional data from European Commission assessments and national monitoring indicators show reform progress levels reaching 72 per cent in justice reform consolidation, 68 per cent in judicial efficiency, 86 per cent in quality of justice, and 87.5 per cent in implementation of the National Cross-Sectoral Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2024.