TIRANA, April 1 – While officially supporting Albania’s EU future, the Dutch government says Albania should not be allowed in until meeting stringent criteria, according to a speech Dutch Ambassador to Tirana Dewi van de Weerd gave to a forum organized by the Albanian Institute for International Studies.
The country has been one of Tirana’s harshest critics in its bid to join the EU.
“The Netherlands has been critical of Albania’s readiness for the candidate status in the past. And we still are,” the ambassador said, citing problems with the proper functioning of political dialogue, the functioning and independence of the judiciary, corruption as well as media freedoms and independence.
“It is clear that a lot of work remains to be done before the opening of negotiations could realistically come into sight,” the ambassador said.
She added the Netherlands aimed to be both strict and fair in its approach to EU enlargement.
“The countries of the Western Balkans all have a genuine prospect of EU accession – their integration in the EU will contribute to regional and European stability – but they are responsible for determining the pace of their accession,” Van de Weerd said.
Albania has been given no date for accession. It will likely take a decade or more for the country to be a full member, based on patterns of the past.
Tirana lobbies over integration, energy
Albania’s foreign and energy ministers, Ditmir Bushati and Damian Gjiknuri, made a visit to Netherlands this week in an effort to lobby for Dutch support in Albania’s European integration and to seek investments from Dutch companies involved in the oil and gas industry.
They met with Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders to discuss on the Albanian work toward the EU integration process.
Gjiknuri also met with Dutch Economics Minister Henk Kamp trying to find ways for an increased bilateral cooperation.
Gjiknuri tried to convey to his counterpart the friendly atmosphere in Albania for foreign businesses and spoke about the great resources the country offers.
Albania is offering 13 new zones of oil and gas exploration which could be of interest for the Dutch companies. Dutch Shell company is already present in Albania.
