EU Ambassador: “Elections, better than last ones. Conditions must be met before EU accession talks”

14/07/2017 00:00

The EU Ambassador to Tirana, Romana Vlahutin, reiterated the stance held
by the EU, stating that the June 25th elections in Tirana were better
than the previous ones.

“There were small issues during the elections, which were resolved. The OSCE-ODIHR report will be ready in two months. However, I think it was good that all political parties immediately accepted the result. There were some interventions at the CEC, in some specific moments. There have been improvements in Albania with these elections”, Vlahutin declared.

The EU Representative said the work for the electoral reform should start as soon as possible, so that the OSCE recommendations can be implemented, especially for depoliticizing elections.

“I really hope that the new Parliament will start discussions for the electoral reform. It cannot be done two or three months before the elections. It should be discussed the soonest possible. That’s why I say that it should start this Autumn”, Vlahutin said.

Two days earlier, MEP McAllister declared that the negotiations with Albania may open next year. Vlahutin said there is no specific date, but Albania needs to implement the conditions first, and one of them is the implementation of the Vetting Law and fight against cannabis.

“We hope that results will take us to the moment when the European Council has the opportunity to decide opening the negotiations with Albania. It is still early to speak, but we must see the results and we are going to be more clear by the end of the year”, Vlahutin said.

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