A debate which for some time had been merely peripheral in Albanian politics, the issue of Albania’s application for status of candidate to join the EU, has suddenly erupted on to the scene in full force. Should Albania apply for the status of candidate to join the EU or should it wait and apply at a later stage? The Albanian media outlets have responded to this question in different ways and forms, while politics, has been more prudent in its approach. For more than a year now, the Socialist Party, through the former Foreign Affairs Minister Arta Dade, Ditmir Bushati and SP Leader Edi Rama himself has been calling for this application to be made, while Prime Minister Berisha has declared that Albania is ready to apply within the Czech Presidency, in other words by 30 June, 2009.
What has been unexpected in this case is the skepticism of the media and the apprehension expressed by several organs that perhaps such an application may not be welcomed by the EU member countries. To become a part of this discourse and to express a personal opinion, I would rather pose the question differently: why not?
There is only one argument on the table which is put forward to justify postponement of application: the internal situation of the EU at the moment, the fatigue from EU enlargement which has enveloped given countries, the Romanian gypsies who are terrorizing so many people throughout the boulevards of Europe, the growing unemployment on the continent, the approaching elections in Germany and France, problems in Ireland, the failure of the Romanian and Bulgarian experiments, and above all, the economic crisis, which is eroding the countries of the EU and which has spun entirely out of control.
The counter-argument is undoubtedly stronger. Albania has gone through all the phases towards application. It did not apply in the middle of the process of the ratification of the SAA by the parliaments of the member countries, as Montenegro did, which has already submitted its application for the status of candidate member of the EU before many European countries have even voted on the SAA with Podgorica.
There has not been a single tangible complaint over standards that must be met, and above all, the political standards have been certified twice over because of Albania’s pending NATO membership.
Albania is playing a key role in the Balkans, in the stability of Kosovo and Macedonia, and is totally in line with the policy of the EU in the region, unlike Serbia, Spain’s favorite, and certain other countries, that continues to create quite a few problems.
Albania must submit its application and fulfill yet another vital standard for this request to be taken into account – free, democratic and fair elections. Albania cannot afford to wait and follow the mood swings of the member countries of the EU, or test the pressure of public opinion in given member countries on their governments. Albania, due to its own fatal errors is exceptionally late in joining this process, and any further delay is unpardonable. In the spring of 1996, Albania was very close to a successful process. The European Commission, in the “White Paper,” of Recommendation proposed the opening of SAA negotiations with Albania, negotiations, which due to the elections of 1996 and the events of 1997, remained merely on paper. Later on, not for any fault of our own, following the Kosovo war, Albania was dealt with alongside the countries of the former Yugoslavia and was separated from the packet of former communist countries which joined the EU earlier. Negotiations finally opened in 2003 and the agreements was signed in 2006, No one in the EU can uphold today that Albania should be made to wait several years more than Bulgaria and Romania to become EU members, when Albania was at the same starting line with these countries. Unfortunately, due to prejudice and our mistakes, we are being dealt with alongside the former republics of Yugoslavia and it probably won’t come as surprise when Albania’s application request is handled at the same time as Serbia’s.
We must apply, despite all the hesitation of the EU, so that we are taken more seriously, so we are taken into account when it comes to visa liberalization and a more substantial slice of EU funding.
Albania must apply and be persistent. The history of the EU shows that no country has been invited politely, but that all countries, especially the former communist countries, have really persisted in their quests to become members of the European Family. We must apply, and parallel to this, we must work to improve standards, equip ourselves with ID Cards and biometrical passports, hold free and fair elections, demonstrate political maturity and consistently persist, especially our diplomatic service, so that our destination which we set out to find eighteen years ago, is accepted today. Without doubt Albania has made very fatal errors along the way. However, there is also no doubt, that due to reduced weight, the past isolation of the country and poverty, the EU has prejudiced us on this road.
Finally, on this occasion, Albanian politics must demonstrate maturity, as has occurred in the case of NATO and several other cases, so that we are all unified and heading in the same direction. Irrespective of who wins the upcoming elections, irrespective of who will govern the country, the policy towards the EU and integration does not change. This is why we must proceed from the principle that if you stand in front of a door and don’t knock, no one is going to get up and open it for youō
