Fule: Status, the ball is on Albania’s side

Mr.Fule declared that four of the priorities are fully delivered, two of them have sufficient progress and the focus is now on the three remaining criteria.

Top Channel: In order to help Albania, the Commission undertook a new approach this March, focusing on the political and parliamentary reforms, with a list of minimal criteria for the candidate status only. But today you made a conditioned recommendation, since even the conditions of this list were not fulfilled on time.

Stefan Fule, EU Commissioner for Enlargement: First of all, I want just to make clear that it is not an impression that we have two parallel processes, but we have only one process, and it started two years ago, with our Opinion and our recommendations for the 12 key priorities, which stand between Albania and start of the negotiations. Albania has delivered fully only four of them, and I think that there is a lot of progress to others. And we hope that there will be soon. The focus is on the remaining ones. At the same time we tried to help, but not only the authorities, but also the opposition. I think this is actually very good result. Also last November, the deal between the government and the opposition, there is this renewed commitment to work jointly on the European agenda, first of all. We have set up some kind of list which would create a critical mass, which would make it comfortable for the Commission to present the proposal to grant the candidate status. And you’re right about that list, which has drawn measures from the 12 key priorities. This is why this is only one process and not two in parallel. Albania has delivered on most of those issues. It still fell short with three of them: the High Court Law, and adopting the use of the procedure of parliament. So, to be credible, we had no choice than to recommend the member states to grant the candidate status on the condition that Albania delivers all those issues. And the ball is on the side of Albania for how soon it will be done. The Commission is ready the very next day to inform the member states that the homework has been done.

Top Channel: The visible progress in the progress-report for the parliamentary and political reforms in Albania is not felt by the daily life of the people, due to the lack of general implementation of laws. An example is the hunger strike of the former political prisoners of the communist regime, with three people attempting self-immolation in protest. Are you aware of this, and the lack of implementation of the Albanian laws?

Stefan Fule, EU Commissioner for Enlargement: I am aware of that. I have been shocked and deeply moved by that tragedy. And it is a pity that people would have to choose this form of protest, in asking the authorities delivering something that the authorities not only have promised but have also turned into a law. The implementation is a problem and I hope that the government will put its house in order in this particular issue. I have a huge respect for those who have been persecuted by the former totalitarian regimes. I think they need to be treated with respect. And I think that this is the basic element of that respect, t hat if compensation has been promised, and reflected in the law, the law should be implemented. On the other side, what you are referring to is indeed the issue that could be generalized also in other areas. That explains why the Commission last year has opted for this new approach to the negotiations, with the chapters 23 and 24. Those are the chapters dealing with the fundamental freedoms, judiciary, justice freedom, and security. These are very much connected with the values and principles that the European Union is founded on. What does it mean? It means that we will not be going after ticking the boxes, and the legislation has been adopted, “Thank you very much. Everything is perfect. The institutions were established. Thank you very much!” No! We will be in the framework of accession negotiations, focusing very much on the track record, and we will have instruments that we didn’t have before. The important message is of course its implementation. We should not wait for the accession of the negotiations and for us to have an effective instrument. Not only to see how that’s implemented, but if not, also to have the ways how to make it very clear to the authorities that they have to deliver on the commitments.

Top channel: As regards the judiciary, or the rule of law that includes judiciary, corruption and crime, there is still work to be done by Albania and especially for delivering the results. But when we are talking about justice, I want to bring to your attention another concrete example, the letter that has been sent to you by the member of one of the January 21st victims about the judicial process on this case. Is the Commission following this process and how should it be to show an independent justice and without political interferences?

Stefan Fule, EU Commissioner for Enlargement: It is not a surprise that the rule of law and the judicial reform is among those key priorities. And there are still remaining issues for Albania to deliver. And while we do not comment on the individual bases, it doesn’t mean that we are not aware and that we are looking at them and not asking ourselves “is it just an isolated case, or an unfortunate mishap of the system. It shows that there a system of issues that we need to address. And when have a feeling that there is indeed systemic issues, they are to be reflected on the progress report. After all, the progress report is not only based on what we have been told by the authorities. It is based on the active work of our delegation, the cooperation of international organizations, the Council of Europe, but also other stage holders, including the civil society in Albania.

Top Channel: The elections are another important point, especially for Albania. One week ago you had not decided yet how this condition would be used. What made you use it as a condition for the negotiations and not for the status?

Stefan Fule, EU Commissioner for Enlargement: I was thinking where exactly I have not expressed myself correctly a week ago, as you said, because I have never made the connection between the conduct of the elections and the candidate status. There is a link and it is the improved election legislation. And it is linked to us feeling uncomfortable to propose granting the candidate status.
On the same time, here we are talking again about this magic word, the “implementation”. One thing is to find consensus between the government and the opposition on this additional legislation on these legal steps for the elections, and another thing is to deliver free and fair elections, with the full legitimacy behind. This is the reason why we made that link to our recommendation for starting the accession negotiation.

Top Channel:  You handed over the progress-report results. What do you expect from Albania and what are the expectancies from the member countries towards the recommendations that you lead.

Stefan Fule, EU Commissioner for Enlargement: We delivered our assessment on the work done in Albania. And again, the dialogue and the work between the government and the opposition have been able to move forward significantly. And I think that the Albanians should congratulate themselves for the work done and the Commission should be in the position to propose the candidate status, albeit conditional, for the member states to make a decision. I think it is good news for the government, good news for the opposition, good news for the Albanians. I hope that all of them will feel comfortable about that.
Now I hope very much that after that very clear commitment from our side, but also the clear expectations, the time will not be wasted in Albania, and all the mobilization in the dialogue between the government and opposition would make it possible for Albania to deliver the remaining three issues. The sooner Albania does that, the sooner the Commission would go to the member states, saying that the work is done and now it is the time for you to consider granting the candidate status for Albania.

Prepared by: Ernest Bunguri

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