EU’s top enlargement official calls for deeper reforms on the rule of law, as prime minister says speed in opening membership negotiations, the next step in Albania’s bid, is key for Tirana
TIRANA, March 25 – Albania aims to open accession negotiations with the European Union by the end of this year, Prime Minister Edi Rama has told EU’s highest enlargement official, adding that Tirana will fulfill several conditions by then.
Johannes Hahn, the EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, held a two-day visit to Tirana this week to co-chair alongside Rama the fifth High Level Dialogue between EU and Albania.
Hahn said there had been some progress in reforms, but the EU expected more tangible results in the rule of law area, including a fully independent judiciary and a stronger fight against corruption.
The talks of the dialogue meeting aimed to intensify Albania’s work on the key reforms necessary for the next stage of the country’s EU integration process.
The commissioner said that the concrete results Albania must have in the consolidation of the rule of law are crucial for the advancement in the integration process.
The 28 EU member states granted Albania the status of official EU membership candidate on June 24, 2014. Opening accession negotiations is the next step in Albania’s long road to becoming an EU member state and is recognition of recent reforms in the country.
After achieving candidate status last year, Albania is working on five key priorities before launching negotiations for full membership with the EU.
Rama said that in a few months all five key reforms would be completed, saying they were important for Albania’s future, not just EU membership.
Rama has repeatedly said the justice system has been a weak point in Albania due to inefficiency, lack of professionalism and corruption.
Last week, European Integration Minister Klajda Gjosha reported to EU authorities in Brussels on the country’s progress, just ahead of the high-level meeting held this week.
Representatives from 35 Albanian institutions also reported on the progress of the reforms in the country.
Gjosha focused especially at the reforms in the economic area, for which the government has set its own mid-term goals.
Before coming to Albania, Hahn said during a meeting with Gjosha that the process of Albania’s EU accession is not being influenced by external factors that can slow down or stop the objective.
“There must be a focus on reforms in order for the process to move forward. We’re here to support Albania to advance in the path that it has started,” Hahn said. “The speed with which it advances depends on the ability of Albania to deliver these reforms, which we will carefully scrutinize.”
He added the process of integration for any country that aspires to become and EU member, “doesn’t only relate to the harmonization of legislation with the EU, but with the implementation of this legislation in practice.”
Rama has said that a new approach after an agreement in Berlin last year has been to boost cooperation of Western Balkan countries with each other as part of a joint bid for EU membership.
During his official visit, Hahn met with Albania’s senior leaders, including President Bujar Nishani, Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta, Opposition Leader Lulzim Basha and representatives of civil society groups.
During the stay, Hahn also visited cultural sites in Tirana and an EU-funded project.
