Parliament approves pro-EU resolution

TIRANA, Nov. 27 – The Albanian parliament has a proved a resolution calling for the country to move forward with its bid to become a member of the European Union ahead of an important decision by EU member states on whether to grant Albania official candidate status in December.
The resolution passed unanimously with all 105 MPs attending the session voting in favor, underling the wide support that EU integration has in Albania. The only debate came from members of parliament from the opposition and governing parties arguing who had done more to move the bid forward. The opposition Democrats accused the Socialists of having stalled the process on purpose when they were in opposition.
The new government of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama has set EU membership for the country as its top priority and that seemed to be a main base for which they were voted in the last parliamentary elections.
In October, the European Commission made a positive proposal to the EU’s Council of Ministers for Tirana to get the candidate status it had applied since 2009.
The decision is still being debated among EU diplomats, and Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark have not yet made up their minds. The European Commission has voiced its support for Albania’s bid, saying the country has made the necessary progress and deserves to be granted candidate status.
The head of the European Commission’s enlargement strategies and policies, Jean-Eric Paquet, said that many member states supported the bid but that some were still undecided. He made this comment during a conference held by the European Policy Centre think tank. Paquet added that he did not think any countries were against it, however.
On Tuesday, the European Parliament also issued a statement in support of Albania’s bid but also urged Tirana to further work on the fight against organized crime and corruption and further depend democratic reforms.

Ministers lobbying in Brussels
The Albanian ministers for European integration, the interior and justice took part in a number of meetings with EU ambassadors in the Belgian and EU capital. The Albanian ministers reported on various short-term measures in the area of the rule of law. They presented an updated Action Plan on the fight against corruption and organized crime as well as the latest report on the concrete actions taken in these areas.
They urged Brussels officials to continue their support to Tirana “for the continuation of the reforms.”
Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri said that they already have concrete results in the fight against organized crime while Justice Minister Nasip Naco asked for further assistance from the Venice Commission for the reform in the justice system.
The three ministers, including that of European Integration Minister Klajda Gjosha, reported on the concrete steps and reforms that their new Cabinet, in power in the last just more than two months, has undertaken.
“Albania’s European prospects are very important; it urges us on further reforms in the country. The Albanian government is aware that the progress toward membership depends on the steps Albania will undertake to fulfill the already set criteria, based on the merits. We are aware there is much work to do,” according to Gjosha.
Corruption, organized crime and reforms are the main areas in which Tirana should focus its work.
“The Albanian public considers the EU as its future,” said Gjosha.
Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule also met with Albanian Ministers considering that an excellent opportunity to follow-up on the discussions that took place during the first meeting of the High Level Dialogue on the Key Priorities, which took place in Tirana earlier in November.
“I truly appreciate the initiative of ministers Gjosha, Naco and Tahiri to come to Brussels and continue the talks we had last week”, said the Commissioner. “Their visit is yet another clear token of Albania’s commitment to reform and EU-integration. After my discussion I am convinced that Albania is taking crucial steps to strengthen the functioning of democratic institutions and to embark on a comprehensive reform effort.”
The commissioner said he welcomed the developments and pledged to inform accordingly the member states on the achievements in view of the forthcoming discussions in the EU Council on the commission’s recommendation to grant Albania candidate country status.

Gov’t courts individual states
In another move aimed at getting support from individual states, Prime Minister Edi Rama made a visit to Vienna Austria Monday, where he met with president Heinz Fischer. They discussed on the cooperation between the two countries, Austria’s continuous support to Albania. Rama made known to the Austrian president the efforts of his cabinet in the fight against organized crime and corruption. Fischers offered his country’s support to Albania’s membership efforts into the European Union.
Rama also said that his cabinet will urge and promote further cooperation in the Balkans in order to speed up efforts from all its member countries in the integration process.
Fischers said he will visit Albania next year.
The next day Rama also took part at a meeting of the South East European countries with the Chinese premier, a move aimed at closer ties between the rising global power and European countries.