THE ALBANIAN PUBLIC'S TRUST IN SECURITY: STUMBLING BLOCKS TO EU NEGOTIATIONS 1.3. Parliamentary Control and Oversight Parliament is the highest authority in the hierarchy of powers and authorities that direct the strategic commandment of the Armed Forces. Its competencies include: ● The approval of the National Security Strategy and the Military Strategy, ● The exertion of parliamentary control on the activities of the armed forces, ● The decision on international military cooperation, ● The approval of modernization plans for the armed forces, ● the utilization of human and material resources for usage during states of emergency. 14 Despite this control given to parliament by law, the actual exertion of these powers by legislation has been marginal at best. In most cases about the armed forces, parliament has served as little more than a rubber stamp for the approval of laws and bylaws with little debate. The problematic nature of the current parliament(with regards to its legitimacy) has done little to amend the situation. Parliament also contains the Commission on National Security, which discusses issues related to the budget of the military, defense provisions and also asks the MoD for explanations and recommendations. 1.4. Oversight from Independent Institutions As mentioned, we will also analyze the independent bodies that perform control and oversight concerning the armed forces in Albania. 1.4.1.The Ombudsperson The Ombudsperson is tasked with overseeing that the activities carried out by the Armed Forces respect human rights. The Ombudsperson has conducted several reports throughout the years on the activities of the Armed Forces and has issued several recommendations related to those reports. These recommendations mostly relate to the improvement of treatment for military personnel, issuing recommendations to give dismissed soldiers and officers owed payments, salary cases, proper housing, etc. The latest of such recommendations is dated 9 December 2019, and it relates to a recommendation for the MoD to give, or not give a deceased soldier who died in the line of duty the posthumous rank" Martyr of the Nation". This shows that the oversight 14 Law no. 64/2014. On the Powers and Authorities for the Control of the Armed Forces. As Amended. Article 8 21