An unfair decision

There is deep unfairness in making an example out of Albania so European populists and skeptics can respond to their constituents’ enlargement phobias.
By ANDI BALLA
The European Union’s council of foreign ministers has decided not to follow the recommendations of the EU’s executive and legislative branches. It has refused to grant Albania the official candidate for EU membership status at this time. With the candidate status being little more than a reassuring political statement, in denying it, the five responsible member states have been deeply unfair, because this latest rejection has more to do with the European Union itself rather than Albania’s own progress.
Albania’s fate was sealed by five rich, northwestern countries with populations that are deeply skeptical to enlargement, for which they feel like they are footing the bill in funds and immigration. Making an example out of Albania was expedient, because the country’s image in Europe is dreadful — driven by a lack of knowledge and outdated stereotypes.
Albania has major challenges ahead. We are not arguing that it meets the British, Danish, Dutch, French or German criteria to join the EU tomorrow. That will take years. But the country was given specific tasks to get the candidate status. It completed them. The EU’s highest bodies gave their OK, and Albania arrived at the next check point only to be told that the rules have changed. This undermines credibility of those setting the rules, and has the effect of slowing down reforms, not speeding them up.
In six months, the question of the status will come up again, but there is little guarantee the answer will be positive then either. But further delays would be even more negative for Albania. They would encourage the status quo or even mean steps backward in reforms. All the Albanian government can do now is to work quickly to give good examples of addressing important issues and not give any additional reasons that can be used against the country’s bid.
There is a cost to even a six-month delay though. It is already a challenge for the government to retain the people’s enthusiasm for European integration and successful reforms. And if the people continue to see that EU’s decisions are influenced by internal developments rather than tangible results from Albanian reforms – progress will become even slower.
Albanians are reacting to the council’s negative decision largely with self-blaming ambivalence, but some voices are already starting to express concern that the institution seen in Albania as a beacon of hope for more than two decades is being placed inside a fence of prejudice by a populist minority. Regardless of the phobias in certain corners of Europe, nothing will change the fact that Albania has European values and aspirations. It is European in geography, history and culture. It is poor, but working hard to grow the economy. It has a secular, agnostic, tolerant and multi-faith society.
Despite diplomatic statements by EU representatives to the contrary, while Europe is important to Albania, this country, like most countries in the region, is too small of a market and too poor to be of any consequence for Europe itself. Stability is all that matters to Europe — so the continent is not shamed by another Srebrenica-like event. And that stability has now been achieved through other means, including Albania’s successful accession into NATO.
In politics, some Europeans do not want any further EU enlargement. A smaller group of voters does not want an EU at all. That’s for each country to decide through a democratic process. But the reality is that Albania faces the fact that each EU member can decide separately and veto its progress, even if such decision is unfair or prejudicial. The Netherlands, for example, actually had a decision of parliament to veto Albania’s candidate status. Some of the bloc’s largest powers seemed to have joined its view as well.
Yet, the country should also be thankful for its advocates, not just be angry at the detractors. Eight countries went out of their way to lobby on Albania’s behalf – including one of the bloc’s wealthiest countries and a neighbor that hosts more Albanian-born migrants than any other: Austria and Italy – as well as — Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Ireland and Slovenia. Even Greece, which could pose a legitimate case in the EU context on the maritime border issue, has been largely supportive on the status issue.
Nonetheless, despite this setback, Albania has no choice but to continue its reforms. Even if the actual membership date gets pushed further and further away (or even if it doesn’t happen at all), the accession process itself is the best template the country has to improve its economy and legal framework. Of that, there is no question.
aballa(at)tiranatimes.com