The journey of SPAK: A comprehensive analysis of its achievements and challenges

• Pages: 70-81
• Date: 01 January 2025
• Published date: 01 January 2025
• Author: Adela Kusuri

70

Vol.9 No.1

January, 2025

European Journal of Economics, Law

and Social Sciences

E-ISSN 2520-0429

ISSN 2519-1284

The journey of SPAK: A comprehensive analysis of its achievements and

challenges

Adela Kusuri

Faculty of Law, University of Tirana

DOI: hps://doi.org/10.2478/ejels-2025-0006

Abstract

Corruption and organized crime have been two major challenges in Albania, which have

slowed down the socio-economic development and the country’s progress towards EU

integration.

Corruption in Albania has been present in dierent areas, such as in public administration,

law enforcement, judiciary. Public ocials have been frequently criticized for abusing their

positions for personal enrichment. In the meantime, ordinary citizens have often been held

back by systemic barriers when pursuing justice, or in accessing benets from the healthcare

system, employment opportunities.

Albania also contends with organized crime. The geographic positioning makes Albania

a strategic transit point for drug tracking and other illegal activities, including human

tracking and arms smuggling. The weakness of Albania’s judicial system is one of the critical

factors facilitating corruption and organized crime. Because of this long-term reality, Albania

began a judicial reform in 2014, with international support, mainly from EU and US. The

Justice Reform began with the establishment of the Special Parliamentary Commiee for the

Reform on the Justice System on November 27, 2014. The justice reform began with the aim of

completely changing the justice system, creating a more ecient system and restoring public

trust. In this sense, main purpose of this manuscript is the analysis of Special Anti-Corruption

and Organized Crime Structure (SPAK) and its achievements.

Keywords: SPAK, comprehensive analysis, achievements and challenges.

1. Introduction

The establishment of the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure

(SPAK) symbolizes a very important moment of the last decade in Albania. It has

undoubtedly demonstrated the will of Albania to be guided by European and

international anti-corruption standards. Its creation is based on a set of constitutional

amendments, as well as on the creation or amendment of specic pieces of legislation

Research Article

© 2025 Adela Kusuri

This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons

Aribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

(hps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

1

European Journal of Economics, Law

and Social Sciences

E-ISSN 2520-0429

ISSN 2519-1284

Vol.8 No.3

October, 2024

1

Vol. 9 No.2

September, 2023

Balkan Journal of Interdisciplinary Research

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

E-ISSN 2411-9725

ISSN 2410-759X

Research Article

© 2023 Ardita Abazi Imeri

This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons

Aribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

(hps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

Deliberating in the Gray Zone: North Macedonia’s Hybrid Regime and

Deliberative Democracy Exercise

Ardita Abazi Imeri

European Policy Institute (EPI) – Skopje

DOI: hps://doi.org/10.2478/bjir-2023-0001

Abstract

Deliberative polling has emerged as a promising method for promoting democratic reform

and citizen engagement in various contexts, however, its potential and limitations in hybrid

regimes, where democratic governance is challenged by a mix of democratic and authoritarian

features, remain relatively unexplored. This paper focuses on the case of North Macedonia,

as a country that has undergone signicant political and societal transformation especially in

the recent years. Despite eorts to promote democratic reforms, the country continues to face

challenges in terms of ensuring democratic governance and citizen participation. In a hybrid

regime, like North Macedonia’s, political leaders might not be inclined to value citizens’

input, and the media environment might not be free from inuence, which limits access to

varied and reliable sources of information. Civil society organizations may also encounter

limitations on their operations, and institutional assistance may be insucient. Additionally,

the population’s diversity could make it dicult to reach and build trust with citizens. In

this context, deliberative polling represents an opportunity to engage citizens in meaningful

political dialogue and institutional reform. This paper examines the potential of deliberative

polling as a tool for promoting governance in North Macedonia and highlights the challenges

and limitations faced in this process.

Keywords: deliberative poll, hybrid regime, authoritarian, democracy.

1. Introduction

Democracy around the world is in crisis. In general, the state of democracy world-

wide indicates a lack of progress (Economist Intelligence Unit, 2022). Looking at the

global picture, 2022 fell short of expectations for democracy, as it was anticipated that

the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions might result in an improvement in the

overall score. Both the Freedom House Report 2022 and the Economist Intelligence

Unit’s Democracy Index (EIU) 2022 indicate that the state of democracy around the

world is facing signicant challenges and setbacks.

Research Article

© 2024 Etleva Dobjani and Saimir Kristo

This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons

Aribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

(hps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

Unveiling the Subterranean Heritage: A Case Study of the Underground City

of Kukës, Albania

Assoc. Prof. PhD. Etleva Dobjani

Head of the Department of Architecture and Design, Barleti University, Tirana, Albania

Assoc. Prof. PhD. Saimir Kristo

Vice Dean in the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Creative Industries, Barleti University,

Tirana, Albania

DOI: hps://doi.org/10.2478/ejels-2024-0014

Abstract

This paper investigates the viability of conserving and repurposing Kukës’ underground city,

which was built as a system of civil defence tunnels during the communist era in Albania.

Beneath contemporary Kukës, the underground complex, which houses administrative oces

and hospitals, is an important but underutilized historical and architectural asset. This study

assesses the architectural elements, historical value, and present state of the tunnels using

an extensive methodology that includes expert interviews, public consultations, on-site

inspections, and archival research. Results highlight the site’s dual signicance as a historical

landmark and a possible center for innovation and tourism.

The research oers strategic proposals for reviving the tunnels to strengthen the local economy,

maintain cultural identity, and increase tourist araction, drawing on foreign case studies. By

promoting the inclusion of Kukës’ underground city in larger regional development projects

and considering both community goals and pragmatic concerns, the article adds to the current

conversations in urban planning and cultural preservation.

Sustaining and repurposing Kukës’ underground city has various benets, including

enhanced cultural tourism and economic resurgence that encourage sustainable growth, the

paper points out. Still, challenges like deteriorating infrastructure, security concerns, and

accessibility issues must be overcome. Urban planners and politicians can apply the research’s

practical implications by using it to develop a model for cultural preservation that aligns with

modern social and economic goals.

A sense of shared identity and legacy among the local community’s members is fostered by

the initiative, which has signicant social implications as well. The study has some drawbacks,

including the need for signicant funding and the potential for opposition from groups who

do not recognize the advantages of these kinds of initiatives. To summarise, this research

highlights the potential of adaptive reuse to bolster the sustainability and resilience of urban