Irish minister brings message of hope to jaded Albanians; Greek ambassador says Athens fully supports Tirana’s status bid.
TIRANA, Jan. 15 – One of Albania’s staunchest supporters in its bid to become a member of the European Union has urged the country to stay focused on reforms and be hopeful in its EU path despite recent delays in getting official candidate status for membership.
Paschal Donohoe, Ireland’s Minister for European Affairs, visited Tirana last week and reiterated that the Irish government would continue to help Albania in its bid. Ireland was one of eight countries that actively lobbied for Albania to be granted the status in December, but several other member states delayed the decision for June, wanting to see more results.
The Irish minister commended the progress Albania had made in moving toward the European Union, focusing on the government’s efforts in countering corruption and crime. He encouraged Albanians to continue their efforts to “concretely demonstrate the country’s achievements.”
Donohoe said the EU itself had undergone massive changes in recent years, but added that membership decisions in the European Unions are based on principles not discrimination or bias.
He was answering journalists’ questions over perceived double standards being applied to Albania by the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, the countries that asked to see more proof of progress in December despite full support for Albania by the EU bodies and other member states.
The five countries requested the country show more results in the reforms it has undertaken prior to reviewing its candidacy again in the spring.
Sequi: Dialogue must be kept going
The head of the EU delegation to Tirana, Ambassador Ettore Sequi, said that in the coming months it will be very important for Albania to keep dialogue with the EU alive on a range of issues of importance.
Sequi’s comments were made at a joint press conference with Greek Ambassador Leonidas Rokanas, whose country has the rotating presidency of the EU has pledged support to Albania.
Since Albania’s bid for the status will come under discussion in June, Sequi said the next five months will be very important for Albania.
“In June, a decision on the candidate status for Albania will be made, therefore it is of great importance for the dialogue with the EU to be kept alive on a range of important issues, especially the economy, rule of law, protection of human rights human and the general enlargement agenda,” he said.
Albania expected to receive the candidate status last December, and Tirana did not hide its disappointment at the delay.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said the decision was made under pressure from important countries of the European Union, with domestic political situations that have changed due to the increasing weight of extremist forces that are against the EU in general and enlargement in particular.
Greek Ambassador Rokanas acknowledged the problem of Eurosceptics, but said that his opinion it did not play a determining role in the EU Council’s decision in December.
Greece: Full backing for Albania’s EU status
Tirana has the full backing of Athens in its EU integration bid, the Greek Ambassador to Tirana, Rokanas, said at the press conference Wednesday, while presenting his country’s priorities during the EU presidency in the first half this year.
Rokanas said that Athens fully supported Albania’s integration into Europe, also stressing that the EU’s Council statement only asked for a consideration of the track record in the main areas of work for the country, the fight against corruption and organized crime. But it did not set any new requirements, he added.
The ambassador said Greece’s foreign minister will visit Albania Jan. 29 as part of his regional tour.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has said the country would try hard to get the status of EU candidate status by June.
“We shall make our best (efforts) so that June turns out to be the time of the proper decision on Albania,” Rama said during a news conference to review last year’s governmental work since it came to power. “The EU has positively assessed Albania’s steps, the job done by the new government and setting June as the deadline for getting the status is significant.”
