January 12 (SeeNews) - Albanian prime minister Edi Rama has suggested creating a new ministry to manage hiring in public administration and supervise anti-corruption efforts at public institutions as part of the country's goal of joining the European Union.
The proposal has been sent to president Bajram Begaj, Rama said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The government's anti-corruption policies need to be coordinated better among its different parts, considering the demands of negotiating with the EU, Rama said.
The new ministry will be led by Adea Pirdeni, who currently acts as deputy minister of justice.
Corruption remains an area of serious concern for Albania, according to the 2023 country report by the European Commission. Despite an ongoing justice reform, corruption remains prevalent in the public administration and private business, the report said.
The Albanian special anti-corruption judiciary prosecution has targeted some high-profile corruption cases, leading to the arrest of many government officials, including former prime minister Sali Berisha over claims of helping his son-in-law obtain state land.
Following a cabinet reshuffle last year, earlier this week prime minister Rama announced the consolidation of economy, culture and innovation into a new ministry, aiming to promote innovation in the main domains of policymaking.
(1 euro = 104 Albanian leks)