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Progress in preventing and fighting corruption effectively is slow and requires a sustained
systemic approach and dedicated action in key sectors vulnerable to corruption. There is a
need to initiate or continue to mainstream anti-corruption measures in key sectors, to
undertake targeted risk assessments to feed policymaking, and to roll out effective reform
plans. Stronger political will and clear reform efforts are still needed to improve transparency
and a culture of integrity and to develop further a convincing track record of investigations,
prosecution and final convictions, including at high level. Anti-corruption strategies and
action plans are in place and need to be updated and implemented in a systematic and
structured manner, including through appropriate budgetary resources and dedicated
monitoring to ensure their effective implementation. Public procurement, political party
financing, public finance management, energy, transport, health, water, infrastructure, natural
resources and education remain areas particularly prone to corruption and require more robust
and ambitious measures. As regards repression, the generally low track record triggers
concerns about the effectiveness of investigations and the judicial follow-up.
Throughout the enlargement countries, fundamental rights are generally enshrined and
protected by law, but challenges remain in ensuring their effective implementation. The
legislative and policy frameworks are gradually being completed as a result of countries’
accession to European human rights instruments and alignment with the EU acquis. This is
notably the case on data protection reforms. However, implementation continues to be slow,
and systemic gaps remain in the funding of policies adopted to strengthen human rights
protection, leaving many sectors dependent on donors. Based on the experience of Albania,
North Macedonia and Serbia, the accession as observer of other candidate countries to the
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights will contribute to the development of a
comprehensive monitoring and data collection system ensuring a more effective
implementation of human rights legislation, policies, and strategies.
In much of the region, the Ombudsperson institutions and other independent and regulatory
bodies such as equality bodies play a key role in monitoring the States’ actions to respect,
protect and fulfil human rights, as per their international obligations. However, their
effective independence, resources and capacities remain insufficient, as does the follow-up on
their recommendations. Governments in the region need to consistently address all the
recommendations of international and regional human rights monitoring bodies, including on
prison conditions and the prevention of torture and ill-treatment. This is notably the case in
countries such as North Macedonia, Moldova and Serbia, where recommendations of the
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture have not been systematically addressed.
Civil society continues to supplement or even replace government action in providing
services to persons in vulnerable situations, for instance by running shelters for victims of
sexual and gender-based violence or trafficking in human beings in Albania and Serbia. In
the Western Balkans, the concerns and recommendations in the previous years’ reports
remain largely valid and need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. In Türkiye, the human
rights situation continued to deteriorate and remains a serious concern, including as regards
non-implementation of certain judgements of the European Court of Human Rights, notably
in the Kavala case.
Freedom of expression, media freedom and pluralism are key pillars of a democratic society
and must be upheld. There was limited to no progress, or backsliding, on addressing past
recommendations in the Western Balkan region. In several countries, the media landscape is
marked by deep political polarisation. Pluralism, independence and the development of
quality professional journalism are undermined by media concentration and political
influence over the media in a number of countries. Poor labour conditions persist for
journalists, which can lead to self-censorship. Cases of threats, intimidation and violence