The negative answer, the third in a row since Albania applied for EU membership in 2009, was not a surprise, as political conflict has stalled reforms, and the EU wants to see improvements in fighting corruption and guarantees on proper elections.
TIRANA, Dec. 13 – Albania’s bid to join the European Union suffered another setback this week, as the country was unable to convince EU member states to grant it official candidate status.
Holding the year’s most important meeting on enlargement on Dec. 11, the EU Council of Foreign Ministers’ conclusion noted Albania must approve crucial reforms before gaining candidate status. The decision added that improvements in the rule of law and holding proper parliamentary elections next summer would also be taken into account.
The EU would consider granting the status “as soon as necessary progress has been achieved, also taking into account the further action taken by Albania to fight corruption and organised crime, including by pro-active investigations and prosecutions of such cases.”
The decision was based on recommendations of EU’s executive branch, the EU Commission.
“The council conclusions send the right message to Albania — both of acknowledgment for the hard work done so far and strong encouragement to all political parties and other stakeholders to remain focused on European integration and on the reform process,” said EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule at a press conference following the meeting. “The doors to the EU remain open and the conclusions show the way for Albania to continue progressing towards its European integration goal.”
The negative answer, the third in a row since Albania applied for EU membership in 2009, was not a surprise, as political conflict has stalled reforms, and the EU wants to see some improvements in fighting corruption and guarantees on proper elections.
In addition to being a marker on the road to full EU membership, the candidate status would also entitle Albania to more EU funding. Tirana is currently a potential candidate, falling behind every other country in the Western Balkans with the exception of conflict survivors Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.
Political leaders point fingers, take no responsibility for failures
While many of the problems in Albania demand wider cultural shifts, the technical aspects of getting candidate status have been widely held back due to disagreements between the main ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition Socialist Party. Due to the slim margin majority the governing coalition has in parliament, it must have the opposition’s support on reforms.
The government wants the opposition to vote on laws related to the EU, but it is unwilling to discuss the opposition’s worries on law implementation. The government is also taking no responsibility for its failures to fight corruption.
Despite voting some of the needed laws, the opposition has largely been disruptive and has stalled voting on others. It accuses the government of widespread corruption and failing to properly implement the rule of law. It is also worried the next parliamentary elections will not be fair. Albania’s elections are almost always marred by allegations of vote rigging and misconduct, which makes the next general elections, scheduled in June next years, a very important test, analysts note.
“I would like to call on all Albanian politicians to strengthen dialogue and not allow the European agenda to remain hostage to their particular interests,” said Commissioner Fule.
Those words went into deaf ears in Tirana as Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Opposition Leader Edi Rama blamed each other for the lack of progress, taking no responsibility for failing to move Albania forward.
“Edi Rama reached his malicious goal, thinking that by leaving Albania without the candidate status, the opposition would be stronger. I think that the opposition would be stronger in the integration process, by identifying the contribution of all parties in this process,” Berisha said at a government meeting this week. “He [Rama] can delay it, as he did for three years, but his calculations are very wrong. ŠHe is not voting the laws only because of his maliciousness against the interest of the Albanian people, which apparently has no limits.”
Rama countered that the EU wants to see honest elections before granting the status.
“The EU candidate status can be received by Albania when free and honest elections are held,” Rama said in a press conference. “This is a status that Albania can get only when it shows tangible proof of good will to fight the impunity culture around corruption and organized crime.”
Critical approach needed
Albania’s goal for EU members faces some tough challenges, according to Albert Rakipi, executive director at the Albanian Institute for International Studies.
“We must admit that, even though two decades have passed since the fall of the communist regime, there are still problems with the acceptance of the current political system. And the one component that is not negotiable in this system is holding free and fair elections that are accepted by all the parties in the race,” says Rakipi. “Failure to accept the results has harmed the system and the country’s ability to move forward in its European integration.”
He adds it’s hard to think of becoming an EU candidate for membership when the parliament did not function for three years, boycotted by the opposition as part of not accepting the result of the elections. More worryingly, he points out, the government and the opposition are already having disputes about the next parliamentary elections which are still six months away.
“It is very important to have a critical approach to preparing the country for EU membership. This is a process that must happen here, and does not depend on Brussels,” says Rakipi, explaining that there is little value if the laws are on the books but are not implemented or largely ignored as is the case, for example, for the law banning smoking in public places.
“Albanians overwhelmingly support membership in the European Union,” he says. “But the data goes in conflict with the collective willingness to violate laws. Preparing the country for EU membership means that all must be equal before the laws, regardless of the office or position in society one holds. Yet this is not the case in Albania.”
Key findings of the 2012 EU Progress Report on Albania
1 – Albania has made good progress towards fulfilling the political criteria for membership of the EU. The coordination of work related to integration into the EU has further improved, leading to the revision of the national Action plan to address the EU’s key priorities.
2 – However, additional and sustained efforts will be necessary to fully comply with the political criteria. As regards democracy and rule of law, it is essential to build on recent progress and ensure sustainability of the political dialogue and joint reform efforts. Concrete measures to strengthen the accountability, independence and efficiency of the judiciary are necessary.
3 – The Albanian economy continued to maintain macroeconomic stability. Albania has made further progress towards becoming a functioning market economy. Inflation has remained stable thanks to Albania’s sound monetary policy. However, the Albanian economy remained vulnerable due to a high current account deficit and the fiscal deficit increased in 2011.
