Danish Ambassador tells Albania what to do for EU integration

TIRANA, April 22 – Danish Ambassador to Albania Karsten Ankj粠Jensen held a lecture at the Vlora Ismail Qemali University where he made it clear what Albania should do along its efforts of integration into the European Union.
Corruption, justice and voting were the three main topics he told Albanians that they should focus upon.
Say no to corruption, unfair justice and clientelism. Go to the polling box to express yourself, was all he basically told the students.
Albania may soon be a full member in the European Union as it did with NATO only days ago, he said. He described the beauty of the country and added that Albanians were hard working, tolerant and were looking to the future.
But Albania needs to do a lot of work to reach Europe, before it becomes ready to join the EU, he said.
He added that the EU and its member countries are totally committed to assist Albania’s integration process. But that will come only in the form of counseling and helping, he said.
“Albania’s EU integration depends on what Albania does,” he said. “It is up to the Albanians to decide whether they want to enter the EU or not.”
Corruption and the lack of rule of law are a cancer hampering Albania’s prospects, the ambassador said. There would be no serious investment if foreign investors are not supported from the judiciary. You cannot urge them to come under the existing business situation, he said.
“It is not hard to change. It does not ask for hard work and great resources. It’s simply enough to say ‘No’ to corruption and informality. You should purely change your stance,” he said.
The rule of law is a “citizens’ responsibility,” said Jensen, adding that many Albanians did not pay proper attention to the law. The laws in Albania are not bad but they are not carried out.
The administrative capacity is another main point of attention. That means the government’s capabilities to comply with the practical requirements of the EU or NATO membership, the ambassador said. That means having the proper qualified employees and Albania was far from that. The country would need at least 1,000 employees, very qualified ones, to lead the negotiations of membership with the bloc.
The international community has spent a great deal of money to qualify Albanian employees. But they change every time the minister, or the government changes. That purely adds to the years Albania needs to achieve full membership, he said.
“Say ‘No’ to corruption, say ‘no’ to unfair justice, say ‘no’ to clientelist nominations,” Jensen said.
“I am convinced Albania will become an EU member and that also Albanians will be able to move freely before that. But the exact timing for that is in the Albanians’ hands. If you do not say ‘no’, then time will be needed. If you say ‘no’ and ‘yes, we can’ it will happen much faster than you have imagined,” the ambassador said.