How will corruption be fought in Albania? Ambassador Hohmann explains the objectives of the EU

"Daily battle against corruption", said EU ambassador Christine Hohmann in her first interview after being appointed head of European diplomacy in Albania.

Facing the questions of journalist Erla Mëhilli in Euronews Albania, Hohmann also focused on the disturbing reports on corruption in the country.

Among other things, she also addressed some solutions:

Erla Mëhilli: Madam Ambassador, according to Transparency International, Albania ranks last in terms of the corruption perception index. In conversations with Albanian officials, what do they say when you raise this as a concern?

Ambassador: It takes two people to commit corruption, the one who asks on one side and the one who pays on the other. How can we break this cycle? This is a joint effort, this cannot be done only with laws, but also a change of the daily routine, it is the reality that needs to be changed. Both sides should say no, so the party that wants to be corrupt should stop doing it, but there should also be people who say, no, I don't pay for this, since I have this right. It's easy? No, it isn't, and it takes years to break it, but without starting somewhere, we won't get anywhere. This is the most important thing for me.

Erla Mëhilli: This seems like a difficult battle, Madam Ambassador.

Ambassador: That's right, a daily battle.