The delegation of the European Union in Tirana has reacted to the arrest of the former Minister of Health, Ilir Beqaj.

In an exclusive response to Euronews Albania, the EU Delegation clarifies that the justice institutions in Albania are obliged to have financial control mechanisms to protect the financial interests of the European Union.

“The EU does not comment on ongoing court proceedings. Albanian institutions are obliged to have effective financial control mechanisms to protect the financial interests of the EU. Independent justice institutions also play an important role in this direction. The EU has tools and procedures at its disposal to protect its own financial interests, if necessary,” says the EU’s response.

The former Minister of Health, Ilir Beqaj, was arrested a few days ago for corruption with EU funds in the agency led by him, SASPAC.

Beqaj, is held under the measure of prison arrest by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime.

He and several other people were today in a session over six hours before the Court regarding arrest measures following accusations of corruption, fraud, concealment of wealth and violation of equality in tenders.

From the security measures court session, it is known that Beqaj denied all the charges, and asked to be released with a lighter security measure, with a property guarantee of 50,000 euros. But his proposal was not accepted and the measure of prison arrest requested by the Special Prosecutor’s Office was approved by the Court.

The Special Prosecutor’s Office suspects that Beqaj has abused European funds as the director of the Foreign Aid Coordination Agency, conducting fictitious procurements in cooperation with the coordinator Ermal Kurtullaj, as well as hiding his wealth with false statements.

Ilir Beqaj resigned as the head of the Agency as soon as he was banned from traveling abroad and was asked to appear regularly before the SPAK (Special Prosecutor’s Office) in connection with investigations on the concession of sterilization of surgical equipment.

In this case, he is accused of abuse of office as former Minister of Health, while former Deputy Minister Klodian Rrjepaj and entrepreneur Ilir Rrapaj have been arrested.