Renée Jones Bos, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Netherlands,
visited the Tirana Seminary for Transformation of Diplomacy.
She said in an interview for Top Channel that Albania has not completely delivered on the five key priorities. In an interview with Top Channel’s journalist, Muhamed Veliu, she says that the justice reform is decisive:
Top Channel: Netherlands will take over the EU persidency this January 2016. What will be the priorities of this Presidency?
We want the EU to focus on innovation, jobs and development, because it is important for people to be employed. We also want the EU to focus on important current matters, such as the refugees, climate and energy. We want an EU that focuses on its citizens. This is the only way how we can be connected to the citizens. The people must be involved.
Top Channel: What about EU enlargement?
It is an important part of our agenda. Netherlands has made it clear about its approach, strict and just. We want to help countries that have taken the EU path. We think this is important and helps with the reforms.
Top Channel: What evaluation has Netherlands for Albania’s EU integration efforts?
Major steps have been taken so far, that is why Albania received the candidate status. I think this is an important moment and we congratulate you for this. But the next step is implementation. It is one thing to have write laws on paper, and completely another thing implementing them. This is what Albania will have to face.
Top Channel: What is the evaluation of Netherlands for the five key priorities required by the European Commission?
They have not been completely fulfilled so far. We must be sincere about this. More steps need to be taken, such as justice reform, fight against organized crime and corruption. Some steps have been taken but we are not there yet, for the moment.
Top Channel: What is your opinion on the efforts made so far for the justice reform?
Some good ideas are on the table. Some steps have been taken. But the judiciary reform is one of those difficult things to be eralized. It is the most important one. Every democracy deserves a good justice reform. If we don’t have it, democracy is not functional. This reform is one of the most decisive aspects for Albania. We help Albania and do not say what is good or bad, this is why we are your partners. I have met many people, even law students in Netherlands. We have a program for the rule of law. We will work with them for the next steps.
Top Channel: What are the concerns of Netherlands for Albania?
We need to be sincere. Corruption is really a concern. Corruption, together with a justice system that doesn’t function properly, makes the economic development more difficult. It is more difficult for companies, who want transparency. If they have a problem, they need to address the judiciary. If there is corruption, they want it punished. We see unemployment of youth as another problem, the chances they need to have. You have a marvelous country but you need to keep the talented youth here, to build the country.
Top Channel
