In first official visit of its kind in six years, Albanian prime minister meets German chancellor to discuss cooperation, EU integration.
TIRANA, April 3 – German Chancellor Angela Merkel has indicated her country will not veto a decision to grant Albania EU candidate for membership status in June, but has stopped short of offering any guarantees, pending a report from the EU executive branch.
Germany, EU’s largest economy and most populous member, was one of five countries that asked for more time to see the progress of the new government when the question of the status came up for debate last December.
Merkel made the comments at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama, who made an official state visit to Germany that is seen as very important by Albanian officials, who view who believe Germany holds sway with the rest of the skeptic EU members.
This was the first visit of its kind for an Albanian prime minister in six years. The German chancellor said she will likely visit Albania within the next 12 months.
Rama also met with other officials of the German parliament and representatives of the business community.
Following the official ceremony of the visit the two top officials held a meeting and then a joint news conference.
Merkel said that Germany treats all countries based on the reports it receives from the European Commission. Asked on whether Albania will be granted the EU candidate status, Merkel said she expects to receive the most recent report of the European Commission which is expected to be released in June.
“We have given to all Balkan countries the European perspective and at the end of a long road we treat cases according to what the European Commission tells us and they show us the state of affairs in Albania so far. In June we will receive a new report and the commission will have noted down the progress and we will decide in a positive point of view the status of candidate country,” Merkel said.
It is latest report in December, the European Commission recommended Albania be granted candidate status with no further delays.
Rama said that Albania will fulfill all reforms that make possible the EU integration.
“We are committed to fulfill all reforms, to fight organized crime and corruption and we have done much till now,” Rama said.
Last December, Albania was refused the EU candidate status because the EU leaders decided that there is still work to be done in implementing the required reforms.
Tuesday’s meeting is of key importance for Albania’s aspirations about becoming an EU candidate country in June, after the meeting of the EU Council of Minister in Brussels.
Despite an unconditional recommendation by the European Commission, the EU Council of Ministers in December postponed a decision on granting Albania candidate status, seeking a longer track record in the fight against organized crime and corruption.
EU ministers said they would await a new report from the Commission this June, covering implementation of anti-corruption and judicial reforms, before deciding on Albania’s application.
During a visit to Tirana on March 6, the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Stefan Fule, urged Albania’s political parties to work together to meet the accession reform criteria.
“Albania’s future is in the EUŠbut the political parties need to work together and efficiently,” Fule said. Referring to the country’s deep political divisions, he added: “The culture of confrontation does not help Albania’s EU integration process.”
