TIRANA, Feb. 26 – At the end of his meeting with Prime Minister Edi Rama, chief of the EU’s executive arm Jean-Claude Juncker told the media “Albania hasn’t stopped accumulating success,” reaffirming the European Commission will recommend opening of accession negotiations if the country continues in its reform path, but giving no official dates.
Juncker’s visit to all six WB states this week comes after the EC published its new expansion strategy paper, while the evaluation report for each candidate state’s individual progress will be published in April.
This year, Albania expects to receive an unconditional recommendation to open accession negotiations with the EU. The last recommendation received in the fall of 2016 was tied to the progress of the justice reform, and in particular the reevaluation of judges and prosecutors.
In his press statement, Rama said the resignation of a total of 17 judges and prosecutors from Albania’s judicial system so far is a clear indicator the judicial reform is beginning to achieve its goal in establishing an independent justice system in the country.
He added that, in the following weeks, the Vetting’s relevant commissions will begin work in solving respective issues, and that their work’s results will also be obvious.
“We strongly believe we deserve a full and clean recommendation by the European Commission, and we hope member states will respond positively and unanimously, as we have done our homework in detail and opening accession negotiations will open a new chapter of efforts in our EU journey,” Rama said.
Juncker, however, refrained from fully assuring Rama accession negotiations will open this year.
“If you proceed in the reform path, this will allow the commission to recommend the opening of negotiations. I am not here to make empty promises and talk about dates, but I can encourage you to continue with the reforms undertaken in the war against organized crime, for the judicial bodies and the vetting,” Juncker said.
Junker also spoke about the maritime border agreement with Greece, saying reaching an agreement would be in Albania’s favor.
The possibility of a new maritime agreement with Greece has seen debate in the country, especially since last week President Ilir Meta hindered negotiations due to the foreign ministry’s unconstitutional way of requesting the president’s full authority on the issue.
Concerning this, Rama said that Meta hasn’t rejected negotiations, but rather asked for clarifications concerning the request for authorization based on his constitutional right.
“We have handed the written clarifications, they are currently on the president’s desk. I trust the president will complete his duty and we will have sufficient time to sign a new agreement, in full accordance to the Constitutional Court’s order,” Rama said.
The new EU expansion strategy set 2025 as a possible membership deadline for candidate states, in particular for Serbia and Montenegro, which have already opened accession negotiations and are front-runners in the Balkans.
In this context, Juncker said the deadline is valid for all candidate states which manage to fulfill membership criteria, and that it does not mean Albania’s achievements are being overlooked.
Rama, on the other hand, said the strategy consists of a process based on merit, rather than front-runners and second-runners.
“This doesn’t mean they are ahead and we are behind, it means this is the actual situation and it is up to each country to run. In the worst case scenario, we will join the EU at the same time as Serbia, in the best case scenario, we will be faster,” Rama told the media.
Despite Juncker’s rosy words, the executive arm’s much-anticipated new strategy paper for EU enlargement in the WB was seen by many analysts in the country as repeating the old open-door policies, but leaving Albania’s membership uncertain.
