The government-SPAK tensions worry the US, which links the partnership to the independence of the judiciary. The embassy in Tirana emphasizes to Facto that “the independence of justice institutions remains essential for cooperation between the US and Albania.”

Esmeralda Topi

Tensions between the executive and the judiciary, which erupted from recent government cases, have transcended the boundaries of domestic politics. The two main international partners that have been the main supporters of judicial reform are now concerned about the independence of the new institutions.

Following the reaction of the European Commission, which warned that political pressure on the judiciary jeopardizes the credibility of justice reform and Albania’s path towards the EU, the United States has also given its signal.

Washington sees judicial independence as a condition for the strategic partnership between the two countries.

“The independence of justice institutions in Albania remains essential for continued cooperation between the United States and Albania in the fight against international crime. We have no comment on pending legal matters,” the US Embassy in Tirana told Faktoje.al.

Justice reform is an “investment” of international partners, such as the US and the EU, who have been engaged from the early stages with technical and financial support, to build a justice system that eliminates impunity and guarantees the treatment of all as equals before the law.

Digital trustworthiness, another alarm

But American concerns do not stop at the government-SPAK clash. The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) came up with a parallel concern : the digitalization of the state, another critical point of institutional credibility.

Members of the American Chamber warn of serious risks to the functioning of the e-Albania platform and the AKSHI system.
“…some services of the e-Albania platform currently operate unstably and do not meet the operational needs of businesses and citizens,” the statement reads .

For AmCham, this is not just a technical problem. But a direct threat to the credibility of the digital state and the investment climate.

American businesses say the lack of independent auditing, cybersecurity, and updating to international standards poses a threat to economic stability and national security. They have also reported service outages, delays, and inconsistent performance that hinder their daily operations.

“This concern is particularly important for AmCham, as the Chamber represents a significant number of member companies operating in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ecosystem and related sectors,” the statement said .
AmCham directly links the reliability of digital systems to national security and the business climate.

For this reason, the American Chamber calls on the Government to take immediate corrective measures to guarantee the uninterrupted, stable and reliable operation of all e-Albania services, with a particular focus on services critical to business activity and procurement.

Conclusion

Albania cannot move towards European integration and maintain its partnership with the US without guaranteeing the credibility of its institutions. The independence of the judiciary and the security of digital systems are not simply technical or legal issues; they are the foundations on which the rule of law, economic stability and citizen trust are built. If these foundations are shaken, Albania risks its path towards the EU and its partnership with the US.