Juncker in Tirana. Vlahutin: “The task of our generation”

Vlahutin has written a report, saying that there are challenges and reforms that need to be undertaken.

The task of our generation!

Tomorrow’s visit of President Juncker to Albania, just two weeks after the Commission announced its strategy for Western Balkans, is clear evidence of EU’s strong commitment in the region.

It is equally clear that the Albanian people have chosen to align their country with the EU standards and bring it as a full member of the European Union.

We are witnessing the same strong will as 27 years ago, when students marched for freedom, chanting “We want Albania the same as all Europe”.

The strategy for Western Balkans gives a clear and concrete perspective about the integration of each partner, whose progress depends on their ability to give results.

We need to be clear that there are no bypassing or shortcuts with essential reforms. There is still a lot of work to do and hard decisions to be taken. The implementation of the reforms in the rule of law, basic rights and good governing, remains the most important purpose for Albania and Western Balkans.

Albania has made significant progress on a number of reforms, especially with the Judiciary Reform, but the hope and trust in the stability of change need to be reinforced through the daily implementation of the reforms.

Citizens are at the centre of this transformation project, and the EU has offered six main initiatives to support it, starting with doubling the efforts in the rule of law, security and migration, to increasing social and economic development, digital agenda and good neighbouring relations. The list of duties is long, but its core is very simple: the ambition to improve the life quality of citizens in Albania and all Western Balkan, each day more.

This needs to be complemented with the constructive engagement in the democratic process between the majority and the opposition in a common and united front on the priority given to EU integration. As stated by President Juncker at the Strategy’s announcement: “with strong political will, real and sustained reforms, and definitive solutions to dispute with neighbours, the Western Balkans can move forward on their respective European paths. Whether this is achieved will depend on their objective merits”

We are all Europeans, we share the European identity, values, history, and culture. However we still have to bring the Western Balkans into the European Union, not in a faraway future, but in our time and on the basis of serious, concrete, and committed work. We owe it to our parents. We owe it to our children. But above all we owe it to ourselves, to who we are and how we want to be remembered – as the generation that completed the monumental task of making Europe whole, free and at peace”, Vlahutin says.

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