MEPs reporting on Albania urge Tirana to take further steps in strengthening the capacity of public administration, which they say should be depoliticized and based on meritocracy
TIRANA, May 3 – The European Parliament has adopted a draft resolution on Albania’s progress toward European integration, stressing the need for ongoing and constructive political dialogue between political forces as the main premise for the country’s progress on the path of European integration.
Compiled by Knut Fleckenstein, the MEP rapporteur for Albania, the resolution urges Tirana to make more efforts at five key priorities: corruption, organized crime, judiciary, administrative reform and human rights.
Albania was granted EU candidate status last year and the reforms are needed to launch of the full membership negotiations.
The resolution urges Albania to take further steps in strengthening the capacity of the public administration, which should be depoliticized and based on meritocracy.
While supporting judicial reform, the EU wants Albania to reform the judiciary in order to be independent.
The resolution also asks for the strengthening of human rights, as well as deepening the fight against corruption and organized crime. EU also requires the agreement on decriminalization.
Political wrangling has held back the progress of reform, and MEPs warn that continuing political polarization could further jeopardize Albania’s EU integration efforts. They call on both the ruling coalition and the opposition to cooperate responsibly and constructively.
“Albania’s government is currently working on key reforms necessary to make the country fit for EU membership. These crucial reforms need to be debated broadly in parliament but also with civil society,” Fleckenstein said. “I want to encourage Albania to pursue and intensify its reform efforts in order to open EU accession negotiations as soon as possible,” he added.
The MEPs also praise Albania for its climate of religious tolerance, its constructive and pro-active stance in regional and bilateral cooperation, particularly in regards to Serbia, and its full alignment with EU foreign policy positions.
