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Another red card from Strasbourg for vetting/ Eugen Papandreou's 15-year ban overturned: Albania violated his rights!

2026-08-25 12:08:49Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Another red card from Strasbourg for vetting/ Eugen Papandreou's 15-year

Another red card from Strasbourg for the way the vetting bodies behaved with justice officials.

Strasbourg sentenced Albania to a fine of three thousand euros in damages, to be paid to the Secretary General of the Constitutional Court. Strasbourg considered the vetting decision against Papandreou as disproportionate.

The European Court of Human Rights has found a violation of Article 8 of the Convention in the case of “Papandile v. Albania”. The ECtHR considers that the 15-year ban on exercising certain high-level judicial functions was disproportionate and recommends reopening the vetting process if requested by Papandile.

The European Court of Human Rights delivered its decision on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in the case "Papandile v. Albania", finding that the Albanian authorities have violated Eugen Papandile's right to respect for private and professional life.

The issue is related to the decision of the vetting bodies to discontinue the process against Papandreou and impose on him a 15-year ban on being appointed to a number of high-ranking positions in the justice system.

Papandile had served as a legal advisor to the Constitutional Court and submitted his vetting statement in 2017. In 2018, he was appointed Secretary General of the Constitutional Court.

In 2021, the Independent Qualification Commission initiated the vetting process against him. A year later, the KPK decided to discontinue the procedure and impose a 15-year ban on him from being appointed as a judge or prosecutor, member of the High Judicial Council or the High Prosecutorial Council, High Inspector of Justice or Prosecutor General. The decision was upheld by the Special Appellate Panel in April 2023.

ECHR: The punishment was disproportionate

The ECHR assessed that Papandreou's transition to the position of Secretary General could not be treated in the same way as a departure from the justice system with the aim of avoiding vetting.

According to the Court, Papandile had advanced in his career within the same Constitutional Court and had continued to work in the justice system.

Precisely for this reason, the Court concluded that the limitation of his future professional opportunities, while he continued to exercise a high function in the justice system, directly affected his career development and professional identity.

The ECtHR stressed that the aim of the rule providing for a 15-year ban is legitimate, as it aims to prevent the circumvention of the vetting process. However, the application of this rule in the present case was disproportionate.

"The interference has not been shown to have been proportionate to the legitimate aims pursued in the circumstances of the case," the decision states.

15-year ban

The ECHR ruling does not automatically lift the 15-year ban. The court did not order a specific solution, but considered that, if Papandile so requests, it would be appropriate to reopen the vetting procedures and re-examine the case, in accordance with the standards set out in its ruling.

The ECHR links this possibility to the fact that both vetting structures have already completed their mandates and the Constitution provides for the manner in which remaining or unresolved procedures are handled after the end of the mandates.

Albania must pay 3 thousand euros

For the violation found of Article 8 of the Convention, the Court decided that Albania was to pay Eugen Papandile 3,000 euros for non-pecuniary damage, plus any tax that may be applicable.

The request for costs and other legal expenses was dismissed by the Court. The decision was taken unanimously and was notified in writing on 25 August 2026./ Tch


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