The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, received the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, in Tirana this Sunday afternoon. After the meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, both leaders held a joint press release.
Rama thanked the President of the European Commission for his visit and underlined that Albania deserves their vote for opening the EU accession negotiations.
The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama: “Allow me to thank the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, for this visit just before the recommendation for opening the accession negotiations with Albania, and just after the announcement of the EU enlargement plan, which is the base for all countries of our region.
I had the opportunity and privilege to inform the President about Albania’s reforms in their approach towards the EU, and also for standing as a factor that encourages good neighbouring relations and cooperation in the Balkan region.
The opening of the accession negotiations was recommended since November, underlining the need to progress with the judicial reform and Vetting Process. At the time when the recommendation was issued, we had not passed the Vetting law. The Vetting law now has passed and the Vetting process is undergoing. Today we have 17 prosecutors and judges who withdrew from the Vetting process, a clear evidence that the law is already strongly influencing the creation of a new and independent judiciary. We expect concrete results and new cases in the upcoming weeks from the Vetting Commission.
There have been other developments as well, such as an international operation against crime and traffic, called “The Force of Law”. We started a radical transformation process as regards the relations between the judiciary and citizens, by changing the Prosecutor General and by opening a series of cases that were left dormant at the Prosecution. Our determination remains firm as we know that the Vetting law and the other reforms are indispensable, necessary and obligatory. Not just for the European integration, but because Albania needs them and we owe them to the next generation.
EU integration is a project for building a European Albania within our country. I have reiterated that we deserve the recommendation, and I believe that the member countries will respond positively because we have done our homework. It is unfortunate that we couldn’t receive you with a typical Albanian and Mediterranean weather, but we made you feel the same as in Brussels, grey and with boring rain”, Rama said in his speech.
President Juncker considered the reforms undertaken by the Albanian government as very impressive, but he underlined that he had not come to Albania with a concrete date.
European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker: “Western Balkan and Albania are our allies, partners and friendly countries. History has divided us for a long time, and we shouldn’t lose any more time. This is the time to rewrite history. Albania has undertaken many reforms in many fields, which are impressive. If these reforms go on, that will allow the European Commission to recommend the negotiations. I am not in Tirana today to give a concrete date, but to encourage Albania to continue with its reforms. We will be by your side to help prepare your country for accession”, Juncker said.
When asked by journalists why there is no date for Albania, which has already started the judicial reform, while there is already a date for Serbia and Montenegro, Juncker said that these countries will not necessarily join the EU by 2025, since the process is based on merits.
European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker: “We did not say that Serbia and Montenegro will necessarily be part of the EU in 2025. It could happen earlier or later than that. This is not about treating Albania in a less favourable way. This is a process based on merits for each country. All countries that fulfil the criteria will become members”, Juncker said.
When asked about the negotiations with Greece, Juncker said that the issues between both countries must be resolved the soonest possible. Conflicts between the countries of the region need to be resolved before the EU accession, he said.
European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker: “The issues between Albania and Greece need to be resolved the soonest possible. There is a window of opportunities which should be used by both parties. The countries of the region that have territorial disagreements need to overcome them before the EU accession because it cannot be done after. I encourage Albania and Greece, and this is a plus element for opening negotiations. The EU doesn’t belong only to its members, but to any country that fulfils the accession conditions. When Albania fulfils all of them, it will be done.”, Juncker said.
Prime Minister Rama added that the President of Albania has not refused to authorize the negotiations with Greece, but has requested some clarifications, based on his constitutional rights.
The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama: “I trust that the Albanian President will do his job and we will have enough time to resolve the problems with Greece. I think that this process will be resolved successfully. It will be another strong reason for the EU to evaluate Albania as a serious state”, Rama said.
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