ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book identifies systematic failures of member states to address conflicts of interest between politicians and business. Political party financing, public tenders and contracts were highlighted as particular areas of concern. The book discusses active participation and innovative problem-solving. It considers the institutional anti-corruption framework introduced by the international community and the European Union and how it appeared to be receiving a promising welcome in Albania. The Commission later announced that the work of the Report would be taken over by the European Semester process; the Commission’s perspective was that fighting corruption should be addressed through economic policy. The 2018 European Semester mentions corruption as an issue for 13 out of 28 member states, but only proposes anti-corruption recommendations for 7 out of these—clearly demonstrating that the scope of anti-corruption recommendations is very narrow under the European Semester framework.
