The Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fule, is doing another effort
by sending a long letter to the 27 member countries of the European
Union, asking them to vote in favor of the Commission’s recommendation
for giving Albania the candidate status.
In this letter, which is owned by Top Channel, the Commissioner for Enlargement makes a detailed scan of the integration developments, underlining that in the last progress report, Albania has accomplished the standards that in 2012 were established as indispensable for the status. Stefan Fule asked the member countries for a series of new data that are related with the steps undertaken by the Albanian government, after publishing the progress report in October.
“I would like to inform you about the recent developments in Albania, especially fight against organized crime and corruption, as I want to share with you my views for these developments, before the Council of Minister’s meeting this December, when the decision for the European Commission recommendation will be taken. On November 12th, the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, launched a high level dialogue that is related with the key priorities, with the goal of giving further help for increasing the focus and concession on the European integration. This meeting was an event for making an inventory to the first results achieved by the new government and authorities, and for the the further plans that are related with the reforms asked by the European Union. Since when the government led by Edi Rama took their duty on September, there has been a clear determination in increasing the governance, implementation and the rule of law regarding the reforms. Among the first measures taken for the fight against corruption is the appointing of a coordinator for anti-corruption in national level, who will improve the institutional coordination for this issue. Another step is related to the mandate of the commissioner, which is expected to receive confirmation from the government in the days to come. The Commissioner is involved in the planning of a draft law for the anti-corruption strategy, which is expected to end this December”, Fule declared.
In this letter, Fule lists all anti-corruption actions undertaken by the Prosecution in the September-October period, with a series of investigations opening in delicate sectors, such as police, education, health, local authorities, the tax and customs.
There are 13 pro-active investigations for corruption, according to Fule, while nine cases have been referred to the Prosecution for investigating the assets in high rank corruptive cases, including the Mayor of Vlore, Shpetim Gjika, a Socialist Party high rank official, which is the ruling party.
Fule also mentions the role of the state police. The commissioner says that during the same period, the law-enforcing agencies have increased their efforts against the organized crime. The decisions taken during the past two months, as Fule underlines, have created a positive panorama. Fule argues this with a series of successful police operations, such as the one in cooperation with EUROPOL, about the stolen vehicles or the gambling machines, in which 500 criminal acts have been discovered. He also includes the fight against drug traffic, which saw the arrest of 318 suspects for this crime.
With these efforts of the Albanian government, Fule gives this conclusion for the European Union member countries: “Having the chance to discuss with the Albanian government and opposition, I am convinced that Albania has taken some steps forward in reinfocring the democratic institutions and in their functionality, with a comprehensive commitment for the reforms. In the past two months, Albania has reinforced its positions with the candidate status country. Taking in consideration the Commission’s recommendation, the Council would give a strong signal to the Albanian people, and will serve as a consolidation in Albania’s European involvement. This will help the government and opposition to increase the democratic and comprehensive culture and by producing more reforms. I hope that the above elements will help your for a constructive dialogue in the days to come”.
The final answer of the European Union member countries for Albania’s status will be taken in the meeting of December 19th and 20th, in Brussels.
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