Topalli Asks Europe Not To Apply Double Standards To Albania

TIRANA, May 27 – Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli told the European Parliament in Brussels that the EU needs to be more flexible on visa issues for Albanians and also appealed for funding for infrastructure projects in the western Balkan area.
Topalli spoke at the joint meeting of the European Parliament and the western Balkan countries.
Albania was highly praised for its progress, but also urged to show the world concrete results from its reforms.
Topalli mentioned the delicate issue of the visas for Albanians where Brussels has agreed to facilitate visa procedure for certain categories.
But it has also offered the same, or more, to Serbia and Macedonia as compensation for not regressing into anarchy or violence.
“The Schenghen wall is a serious problem for Albanian citizens, again isolated and unable to move freely,” adding that, “I do believe that using different standards for different countries is not fair. I do hope the EU will be more flexible with Albania on this issue,” Topalli said.
Topalli also noted that by October the country expects all EU member countries will have ratified the Stabilization and Association Agreement it signed with the EU two years ago. Until now, 22 countries have already ratified it.
The speaker also urged Brussels to set aside more funding for large infrastructure projects in the western Balkans.
“I strongly believe that EU enlargement with western Balkan countries is a strategic interest for all. For us it is a dream, a goal,” she said. Topalli also met with top European Union officials during her visit to Brussels.
Topalli met with Dmitri Rupel, foreign minister of Slovenia, who heads the bloc. Rupel said that very soon Albania was likely to become an EU candidate due to its progress with its reforms.
French deputy Speaker, Mark Lafiner, was the next stop for her. France will head the EU during the second half of this year.
Meeting EU Secretary General Jose Manuel Barroso was an important meeting for Topalli. Barroso also said that Albania would soon become an EUs candidate country.