After being denied candidate status several times, Albania finally clears major hurdle in bid to join the EU, but the country now faces decade-long tough negotiations and reforms leading to full EU membership.
TIRANA, June 24 – Albania has taken the next step in its long path to European Union membership, as EU members states officially agreed this week to make Tirana an official candidate to join the bloc.
EU foreign ministers gave the green light to Albania’s candidate status Tuesday in a meeting in Luxembourg, and the decision will be formalized by the leaders of 28 EU member states during the weekend.
The decision was welcomed by the entire political class in Albania. “It is a very important step forward in what is set to be a long and difficult journey,” Prime Minister Edi Rama said in a press conference.
Albania had repeatedly failed to obtain the status since first applying in 2009, including six months ago when despite a positive recommendation by EU’s executive branch, member states decided they wanted to see more results before granting the status.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule was first to announce the decision on Twitter, after learning about it during the meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers. He said the status represented an “acknowledgement of reform efforts” by Albania.
The decision is the first major hurdle for Albania, which wants to become a member of the EU, a bloc of half a billion people that forms the world’s biggest economy. Full membership could take a decade or more as Albania will have to now go through a lengthy process to meet many requirements in tackling crime and corruption, and bringing its judiciary and administration to European standards.
“For Albania, today’s decision should translate into a strengthened endorsement of its reform agenda: Albania still needs to meet key priorities, with particular focus on administration and judiciary reform, fight against corruption and organized crime, and fundamental rights,” the European Commission said in a statement.
Candidate status does not mean that the EU will automatically start accession negotiations with Albania, which is a subsequent, separate step in the EU integration process, for which additional progress, in the key priorities, is required.
As part of efforts to show it takes its commitments seriously, Albanian police last week took control of the lawless southern village of Lazarat, a main source of marijuana production, after a four-day gun battle in which 800 police came under fire from rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and mortars.
Albanian Prime Minister Rama, who came to power in June 2013, has pledged to push for faster EU integration.
After speaking by phone with Fule, Rama said in a Twitter post he was “proud that we all together did it. Thanks and gratitude to all of you.”
Speaking in a live televised news conference later Tuesday, Rama said the process now to the launch of official membership negotiations will be “more intensive, the road is more difficult and the challenge becomes bigger.”
“We are convinced that we shall do it despite the conditions set on us because those we have set on ourselves are much stronger,” Rama said.
He also praised the opposition, saying the granting of candidate status was not “an exclusive achievement of the government.”
The EU statement made it clear that progressing further toward the bloc also asked for the political compromise within the country.
“It takes two to tango,” Rama said, adding he is mindful of the EU’s statement that stressed the importance of “continued and sustainable dialogue between the government and the opposition on EU-related reforms.”
Opposition hails decision
The main opposition Democratic Party, through its leader Lulzim Basha, hailed the EU decision considering it the “end of a long road that started five years ago.”
“An important station comes to an end but another new one — launch of negotiations — is ahead,” Basha said. “Now the bar is higher because more is expected from all of us.”
Former Democratic Party prime minister, Sali Berisha, who applied for the status in 2009 expressed “deep gratitude to all citizens” for supporting the reforms, and hailed “the extraordinary support EU member countries’ governments have given Albania in its road of integration.”
Prime Minister Rama also expressed his thanks to certain leaders of the main big countries in Europe.
He specifically mentioned German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her commitment and role in the process. He also mentioned the French president, the British premier, and Italian premier too, adding that Greece’s EU presidency and also Austria’s lobbying on Tirana’s behalf also helped.
Both Rama and Integration Minister Klajda Gjosha mentioned that the fight against organized crime and corruption, bringing justice and administration, and the human rights remained priorities for the government in the near future until reaching the launch of negotiations for full membership.
EU urges better political climate
The conclusions of the statement issued by the EU once again emphasized that “a continuous and sustainable dialogue between the government and opposition for reforms associated with the European Union will remain an important factor for Albania to move forward in its way forward in European integration.”
Rama said the government would like to work in that direction as long as the opposition doesn’t force the government into inaction.
“We are willing to listen and discuss every option that the opposition has for each of the reform laws, but the Albanians can’t wait any longer, Albanians should go faster. And only one thing we cannot afford to give the opposition is to stay in a standstill,” Prime Minister Rama said.
The climate between the two main parties so far has not been favorable. It remains to be seen what change the positive response on the status can bring.
Overhaul of justice system seen vital for next integration steps
Rama has been specifically harsh on the country’s justice system when it comes to the need to reform. He has noted its corruption and warned all judges and prosecutors either to respect the laws or they will face a strong repercussion.
“The European Commission will continue to work closely together with Albania to support its reforms and prepare it for the next step in the integration process, namely the opening of accession negotiations. The opening of negotiations depends on further concrete and sustainable reforms in Albania; agreement from all EU Member States is also required,” according the EU report.
Modest, dignified ceremony to celebrate status
Prime Minister Rama said that upon the final approval from the heads of EU governments on Friday, Albania will hold a modest ceremony to celebrate Albania’s achievement.
Rama made public his invitation for Berisha and other opposition leaders, saying that the status was not an exclusive achievement of the existing cabinet.
He did not forget however to mention that during the last nine months of his executive the opposition had not cooperated at all.
Only former Integration Minister Majlinda Bregu had offered her full support at the parliament, he added.
Rama said there would be no big concert with singers and other expenditure, a feature often repeated by the previous government.
“Albania has a long road ahead,” he said.
