TIRANA, March 22 – The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament adopted this week the resolution on Albania, which states that key political and administrative reforms in the country are progressing, but more has to be done for the opening of EU accession talks.
The resolution on Albania, drafted by MEP Knut Fleckenstein, highlighted the need for the intensification of reform efforts in key priority areas, such as the rule of law, judicial reform, the fight against corruption and organized crime, public administration reform and fundamental rights in order for Albania to get the green light from the EU for the start of accession negotiations.
“Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs remain concerned about widespread corruption in education, healthcare, the judiciary and some other fields. They are also concerned about widespread self-censorship among journalists, who are sometimes physically obstructed from covering specific events, assaulted, or threatened because of their work,” the European Parliament said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the resolution welcomed Albania’s commitment to the fight against radicalization and terrorism. It praised the country’s efforts to prevent radicalized elements from joining the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, while it suggested that Albania exchanges more information with EU countries in the future.
The resolution on Albania received 47 votes in favor, 3 against and 4 abstentions, while the European Parliament is expected to vote on the resolution next month.
