The questionable timeline of European integration

TIRANA, Dec. 14 – With the European in a serious crisis of existence itself, Albania’s European integration seems to be on unstable ground– even more so due to the poor performance of Albania in reaching the EU’s standards.
Last week Croatia signed a treaty to join the European Union in 2013, a bittersweet milestone as the bloc prepares to take on a sluggish economy.
Meanwhile, EU leaders said they were postponing a decision about whether to make Serbia a candidate for membership, a disappointment for the Western-leaning government, which has been trying to put the country’s years as a pariah state behind it.
Albania was almost not mentioned at all. Not that we expected it to be. It has been clear from Brussels since October that Tirana has not fulfilled any of the 12 key recommendations it had received a year ago and it should work on them seriously before claiming to possibly get the candidate status.
Albania’s political deadlock was blamed as the main cause of failure. Brussels made it clear that without a compromise among the political sides there could be held no reforms necessary for the required standards.
The recent reconciliation moves from the governing Democratic Party and the main opposition Socialist Party are good signs that are also supported by Europe. Albanian officials, especially those of the governing Democrats, are confident the country will fulfill the required reforms by next year and they hope to get the approval in spring.
European integration is the Albanian government’s major objective, according to Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who says that the Albanian government is ready to undertake all the necessary reforms.
But Europe has made it clear that Tirana should not expect any positive conclusion until October next year.
Political compromise, fight against corruption and the rule of law, as well as increased capacities of the administration remain the main areas on which the country should work.
“Meritocracy, transparency, accountability, and efficiency are the indisputable pre-requisites for a bureaucracy capable and motivated to draft and implement policy,” said EU Ambassador Ettore Sequi at a seminar Wednesday on the fight against corruption in public administration.
The European Union provides very significant financial support and pays great attention to the effective implementation of anti-corruption and administrative reforms in Albania, in line with EU standards and best European practices.
Addressing the fight against corruption and administrative reform, firmly and early in the pre-accession process, is of fundamental importance for the country’s reputation. It is essential for Albania’s economic development, and for the people of this country and the quality of their governance, for Albania’s European future, said the Ambassador.
OSCE’s Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth said in a meeting with law students that “It would be a shame if the major progress made by Albania in social, political and economic reforms to date were to be undermined at a stroke by the inability or unwillingness to tackle the root causes of corruption and thus delay the much needed development of this great country.”
EU’s Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele wrote in an article last week that Europe would continue its support to Albania’s development and its prospects of membership in the union.
He said that a new funding set by the bloc would “better address Albania’s specific needs as it will bring more funding for Albania’s socio-economic development.”
Time has come when Europe wants to see “comprehensive and convincing progress” in the country’s efforts and reforms and wants the country to demonstrate it has institutions able to exercise democratic governance.