Negotiations begin when vetting process starts, Fleckenstein says
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BERLIN, Nov. 30 – Members of the Committee of Foreign Affairs at the European Parliament convened Wednesday and discussed a draft resolution on Albania, based on a report prepared by Knut Fleckenstein, Vice-Chair of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and rapporteur for Albania in the European Parliament.
In his report, MEP Fleckenstein said that accession talks between European Commission and Albania “should begin, when vetting process has started” for judges and prosecutors under Albania’s justice reform.
MEP Fleckenstein called on his colleagues to support the draft which encourages the launch of membership talks with Albania but also insisted to not approve amendments on “bilateral issues such as claims for minorities.”
In an interview for Albania’s public broadcaster TVSH, MEP Fleckenstein said that the implementation of the vetting bill which sets the basis for transitional qualification assessment of the judges and prosecutors in Albania is the sole condition for the country’s integration.
He dismissed claims from Gunther Krichbaum, head of the German ruling party parliamentary group who recently said Albania must meet seven criteria and reforms to justify opening negotiations at this time.
“Krichbaum mentioned several criteria that must be implemented. I do not believe that we should wait for everything to be implemented by 2018. Maybe he was misinformed because it is the European Parliament that has a say on every step,” the rapporteur for Albania in the European Parliament said.
“I believe it is very clear. You heard what German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Prime Minister Rama, that Albania has made progress. It is clear that negotiations should begin as soon as the judiciary reform is implemented. We cannot wait for the implementation of every single thing, because in many other countries, implementation of certain reforms begins during membership negotiations” MEP Fleckenstein said.
He added, “I believe that the work on justice reform has been done. We are very pleased with the work of the government, as a key factor in regional collaboration.”
Members of the Committee of Foreign Affairs at the European Parliament will discuss the report until the beginning of January and approve it by February 2017.
