TIRANA, May 20 – The conduct of authorities and political actors during the upcoming municipal elections will play a role in the next steps Albania takes in its bid to join the European Union, the bloc’s top enlargement official said this week.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said he urges Albanian politicians to tame their usual harsh rhetoric.
“These elections, as in previous years, will be monitored by the EU. We hope that they meet the standards,” Hahn said. “I am optimistic that Albania can demonstrate solid skills in meeting the five priorities. In early fall first assessments will be carried out, and then we will see how the report will be. We expect genuine progress.”
Hahn made the remarks as the seventh EU-Albania Stabilization and Association Council meeting was held in Brussels under the leadership of Lithuanian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevic, who holds the rotating chairmanship of the bloc.
The joint council convenes once a year to analyze in detail the country’s steps toward EU integration. It is also attended by Albania’s integration and foreign ministers as well as the head of the parliamentary commission for integration.
Fighting corruption, organized crime and justice reform remain top priorities. Albania has serious challenges in five key areas, especially in the rule of law and the justice in economy and life, according to the official EU assessments.
The EU has warned Albania to do more to strengthen the rule of law and to promote adherence to the law in economic affairs.
