British ambassador shows how Albania should ‘reach’ Europe

SHKODRA, Feb 15 – British Ambassador in Albania Fraser Wilson spoke last week to a gathering of students, staff and other citizens at Shkodra University on “The Rule of Law and Albania’s European Integration”.
Thomas Von Handel of the European Commission Delegation in Tirana, which is funding the project under which today’s event took place, and Ditmir Bushati of the European Movement, which is implementing the project, were also present.
Wilson basically talked about the EU issue and insisted his comments represented those only of the UK.
The British ambassador said that 2009 would be a crucial year for Albania.
“If this year goes well, and the right decisions are taken, it could be a decisive year,” urging local authorities and the common people “to make sure that the right decisions are taken now, and that 2009 does not become a “missed opportunity” for Albania.”
The main moment this year will be the June 28th general elections. The ambassador said that the process of preparing for those elections had unfortunately suffered some delay like the new Central Elections Commission was not in place within the correct timescale, and there had been delays in the process of issuing the new ID cards.
Judicial Reform has not yet been completed, he said, adding that judicial reform was crucial to Albania’s integration progress.
“Measures like the new lustration law threaten the independence of the judiciary, and the prosecution,” he said on the new lustration law, adding that “Many – including the European Union – have expressed concerns over the constitutionality of the law.”
The ambassador said that “Disappointingly, the Government, so far, appears to have shown little regard for the concerns of the EU and others, both domestic and international, over the Lustration Law. The consequences of this issue for Albania’s further EU integration are worrying when the Government has stated its intention of applying for candidate status.”
“These issues are inextricably linked to the reforms that remain to be made to strengthen the rule of law in Albania, reforms without which further European integration will simply not happen.”
This year, Albania is likely to achieve NATO membership, he said.
“For its European Integration progress to stay on track, Albania must ensure that serious crimes, especially organized crime, are investigated and prosecuted properly.”
It is interesting to see how an EU member country’s representative considers the implementation of the laws in Albania.
“Translating other countries’ laws wholesale into Albanian is unlikely to meet Albania’s needs, and will lead to laws which cannot be implemented. The example of a law, passed in 2007, which bans smoking in public places is typical. In my own country, we did not pass such a law until – through wide consultation – we were sure we could implement it. And it is being implemented, everywhere, all the time. The fact that here in Albania people continue to smoke, sitting below signs on café walls announcing that this is illegal, makes a mockery of not only this particular law, but the rule of law in general.”
He urged Tirana to look at the experience of countries which have joined the EU in recent years.
The perception of corruption is high in Albania, he said, adding that “If people believe that key officials are corrupt, they may not even try to access services that they are entitled to.”
Until Albania improves the reputation that its judiciary and public administration has for corruption, countries with an even slightly better record will have the competitive advantage against it, when foreign investments are being considered, the ambassador made it clear.
A key test of progress in Albania’s fight against corruption will be an improvement, in the years to come, in the Albanian public’s perceptions.”
“A key concept underlying the rule of law is the principle that all are equal before the law. Immunity from prosecution can undermine this principle. There is therefore a strong argument for restricting immunity to as few positions and circumstances as possible. In my country, no-one has immunity. Except the Queen.”