THE ALBANIAN PUBLIC'S TRUST IN SECURITY: STUMBLING BLOCKS TO EU NEGOTIATIONS SPO is at the center of the new institutions created by the justice reform. It is a special prosecution that has been created with the established goal of combating corruption and organized crime. Its procedural functionality is in the same manner as the regular prosecution except for the legal provisions that are particular to it as an institution. Its work is conducted through its prosecutors, who work in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Judicial Police. It is an important element for the oversight of security actors, as it supplants several institutions that were traditionally tasked with the same duties by overtaking their responsibilities. It is not subordinate to any institution but the Supreme Council of the Prosecution(itself an institution created by the justice reform). 5 The National Bureau of Investigations is a special investigative unit created by the justice reform for the express purpose of investigating matters on the competencies of SPO. Such matters could entail: 1. Active Corruption by people in public offices, foreign public servants, high state officials, people that exert illegal influence on public officials, people that occupy offices and ranks within any institution of the justice system. 2. Passive Corruption of all the above-mentioned categories. 3. Illegal gains of interests, Inequity in public tenders, and procurement procedures. 6 What is noteworthy about the Bureau, is that it is only subservient to SPO. Also, the Bureau has a noteworthy oversight over the State Police, since the State Police are obligated to inform the Bureau of any case that it notices instances of any of the above-mentioned practices taking place. The Bureau compiles a rule book that details exactly how police must act in any case it has a reasonable doubt that such practices are taking place. 7 5 Law no. 95/2016 “For the Organization and Functioning of Institutions that Combat Corruption and Organized Crime” , Article 4. 6 See Article 75/a of the Code of Criminal Procedures 7 Ibid, Article 29. 17