Fule: It is up to the Albanians

While Brussels repeats the appeals for cooperation and constructivism between the parties, the Minister hangs her hopes on the opposition, same as she blamed it for the failure.

“It is not difficult to receive a positive answer, maybe even before the schedule appointed by the European Commission, which will be held in October 2012. I refer to an approach that has found support among all member countries and the European Commission, maybe when Albania will show that these obligations now have changed, such as the return of the opposition in Parliament and the voting of the laws that require qualified majority, which were blocked for more than two years. This is a process that has no other steps, as regards the political cooperation”, Bregu declared.

“The EU will be ready to review its decision again. I wish that within December, maybe before the meeting of the European MPs, which will be held in the first week of December in Tirana, we will be able to give, at least as regards the 12 key priority obligations, the action plan… to give a signal between the Parliamentary Commission of Integration in Parliament and the Albanian Government, in this case, the Ministry of Integration, because we have been represented. And as regards the negotiations part for the Action Plan, for a review of the dates, deadlines and for a review”, the Minister declared.

The European Commissioner, Stefa Fule, valued as decisive the recent political developments, which, according to him, could transform 2012 into the year of opportunities.

“I am encouraged by the decisive steps of Albania for reestablishing consensus through a series of reforms. I encourage the ruling party and the opposition for the stability of this political constructive dialogue, in order to create a new moment towards the European Union. 2012 could become the year of opportunities”, Fule declared.

Asked by Top Channel if there is a possibility for receiving the candidate status in the middle of the next year, before the next report, Stefan Fule declared that he hasn’t foreseen any other concrete plan for Albania, despite his good will, besides the annual report in the framework of the December Council 2012.

“It is up to the Albanians to make their move now. I think that it is important, besides this position, that you have created a momentum. Finally, it is important to give results about the 12 key priorities, and since we are in the subject, the judicial system and the justice reform is one of them. We are ready to help the Albanian authorities and others who are interested to take the necessary steps for giving the results with the 12 key priorities. After they give the results, we will be able to recommend the new negotiations for membership, even if we believe that the progress achieved doesn’t deserve it yet, at least a candidate status. In this period, I don’t plan to aim any other Council meeting of the EU, except that of December 2012, in which will be used the progress-report of next October. But there are people who say ‘never say never’”, Fule underlined.

The declarations of the Minister for Integration, Majlinda Bregu, and Commissioner for Enlargement Fule, were made during the conference organized by the Friends of Europe, for the progress of the Balkan countries in the road towards EU.

Commissioner Fule met other ministers of the region, except the Albanian Minister Bregu, who had planned meetings only with some European MPs. She also met the General Director for Enlargement, Stefan Stanino. The representatives of this government declared for Top Channel that the Minister’s expectancies are premature.

The MPs Eduard Kukan and Hanes Swoboda valued this as a much expected step, before all agreements and political initiatives that bring the normalization of the political climate.

Prepared by: Arta Tozaj

Top Channel