THE ALBANIAN PUBLIC'S TRUST IN SECURITY: STUMBLING BLOCKS TO EU NEGOTIATIONS 1. Control and Oversight of the Armed Forces In this section, we will analyze the control and oversight of the armed forces, as well as the performance of the institutions that carry out this task. 1.1. Background The armed forces have been at the center of matters related to the need for institutional reforms and modernization. The reforms in this sector have been among the most successful and swift of all of the institutional reforms carried out by Albania on its road towards Euro­Atlantic cooperation and integration(not the least of which because of very strict and diligent NATO supervision). The process of reforming the armed forces began in 1991, starting with a reform of military education to increase the number of officers with a university education. 8 Following the 1997 insurrection, the entire military force was reformed with the 1998 Constitution, further establishing into the legislation the civilian control over the armed forces. The armed forces have a constant NATO presence in Tirana, which has provided assistance and expertise over the years. Recent reform concerning the Armed Forces was the accreditation of the Academy of the Armed Forces as an academic institution. This improves the freedom of the academic establishment of this institution to elect officers that will receive positions and titles based upon academic performances and allows for less direct institutional control. 9 Interestingly, findings from the Albanian Security Barometer shows that out of all of the security institutions, the Armed Forces held the perception of being the least corrupt, in comparison to the Police or SIS. 1.2. Executive Control and Oversight The three main institutions that are part of the executive and exert control over the armed forces are the president, the prime minister, and the minister of defense. The constitution and the Law on the Powers and Authorities for the Control of the Armed Forces provide balance over the control of the armed forces and an institutional framework of how these institutions must cooperate to facilitate the work of the armed forces. 8 Remillard. M.& Pietz. T. Defense Reform and Conversion in Albania, Macedonia, and Croatia . DCH. Page 10. 9 Publication from the MoD: https://www.mod.gov.al/index.php/newsroom-2/4238-akademia-e-fa-akreditohet-institucion-i-arsimit-te­larte-xhacka-hedhim-themelet-e-modernizimit-te-qendrueshem-te-mbrojtjes-e-sigurise 18