For Albania and Montenegro, the road to European integration passes through a single, uncompromising condition: zero tolerance for corruption and financial mismanagement. This was the clear message delivered by the delegation of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT), led by Chairman Niclas Herbst, during its recent fact-finding mission in Tirana and Podgorica.
The Core of the Mission
The visit focused on the Reform and Growth Facility (RGF) for the Western Balkans — a new mechanism designed to ensure sound financial management of EU funds.
MEPs acknowledged the establishment of new audit and control bodies in both countries, a positive step toward meeting EU standards. But Herbst’s words after the mission were candid: “The RGF is a historic opportunity for the Western Balkans, but its success depends on credibility and strong governance.”
The Remaining Challenges
Despite progress, the delegation identified serious concerns:
Endemic corruption and weak judicial follow-up.
Organized crime and risks in public procurement.
Chronic infrastructure delays linked to political interference.
Overburdened courts and pressure on oversight institutions.
Civil society sidelined in monitoring processes.
Past misuse of EU funds in Albania.
Overreliance on tourism and real estate in Montenegro.
Endemic corruption and weak judicial follow-up.
Organized crime and risks in public procurement.
Chronic infrastructure delays linked to political interference.
Overburdened courts and pressure on oversight institutions.
Civil society sidelined in monitoring processes.
Past misuse of EU funds in Albania.
Overreliance on tourism and real estate in Montenegro.
Why It Matters for Albania and Montenegro
The EU’s message is clear: adopting legislation is not enough — building a culture of accountability is the true test. According to Herbst, within the next two to three years, both countries must show tangible results by:
Strengthening judicial and audit independence.
Demonstrating real asset recovery from corruption cases.
Empowering civil society participation.
Allocating resources for implementation, not just policy drafting.
Failure to deliver risks undermining not only the RGF, but the credibility of the EU enlargement process itself.
Strengthening judicial and audit independence.
Demonstrating real asset recovery from corruption cases.
Empowering civil society participation.
Allocating resources for implementation, not just policy drafting.
Failure to deliver risks undermining not only the RGF, but the credibility of the EU enlargement process itself.
Conclusion
Albania and Montenegro stand at a crossroads. On one hand, they are praised for aligning their legal and institutional frameworks with EU standards. On the other, entrenched corruption and weak enforcement threaten to derail progress.
For Brussels, the monitoring will be strict, and for Tirana and Podgorica, the message is uncompromising: European funds demand European accountability.
For Brussels, the monitoring will be strict, and for Tirana and Podgorica, the message is uncompromising: European funds demand European accountability.