TIRANA, Sep. 7 – Minister of European Integration, Majlinda Bregu, said that Franco Fratini, the Italian deputy head of the European Union’s Commissioner on Justice, Freedom and Security, has told her that the loosening of visa restriction for Albania would start with the beginning of next year.
Bregu met Fratini in Strasbourg.
Fratini praised Albanian government achievements saying that he was, “impressed with the seriousness and commitment the government has undertaken reforms,” according to a statement.
That would positively affect the country’s progress report prepared by the European Commission and normally publicized in October.
Fratini also appealed to the Albanian political forces not to hamper the reform in the judiciary, which he considered as a key reform.
He also said that Europe expected more concrete results in the fight against corruption in Albania.
The visa regulations will be voted on at the Council of Ministers of the EC this month and on January 1, 2008 there would start negotiations for visa liberalization that is closely linked with the reforms in the country.
The fight against organized crime and border management were called very important in the country’s EU integration efforts.
At the same time, the main opposition Socialist Party proposed the creation of a parliamentary commission for reform in the judiciary, also asking for international assistance in the area.
They added there was no support from the governing Democratic Party on the issue.
“Through Commissioner Fratini the European Union presented the repeated need for reforms and results in the judiciary,” said Ylli Manjani of the Socialists in a statement.
They asked President Bamir Topi to convene a roundtable of the parliamentary political parties to discuss the issue.
