Even this high-level meeting between Albania and the EU could not break
the ice between the majority and the opposition as regards the Justice
Reform. EU Commissioner, Johanes Hahn, was unable to fulfill the purpose
of his visit, to encourage the acceleration of the justice reform. But
the message was clear: the opposition cannot condition the Justice
Reform with anything.
The Commissioner reiterated the same European advises for the progress of this reform. He said that it is necessary to have a decision before starting its implementation.
PM Rama, inspired by this meeting, proposed the same format of talks with the opposition, but without an international party to intermediate, like Commissioner Hahn.
“I want to invite the Democratic Party leader, in front of Commissioner Hahn, to sit and have a high-level political dialogue between us. The majority is ready for this. We expect the Democratic Party to be ready too and finalize this with a process that is about to be completed, as the Commissioner said”, Rama declared.
When asked by Top Channel about the conditions imposed by the opposition, the Commissioner left to be understood that Albania doesn’t have the luxury to complicate things.
“As regards the Justice Reform, we should focus on it and not make things more complicated. I have always been clear that you already have an existing justice system. You have courts, and this is part of the work that is done. The focus now should be on the justice reform and I want to appeal everyone to sit and complete the last kilometer of this path”, Hahn said.
Besides the five priorities, the Commissioner said that they should be cautious with “Decriminalization” and the “Electoral Reform”, while for the negotiations he says that his objective is to present the EU member coutnries with a positive report during this year, so that they can have something in their hands and take a decision.
“This is because I believe that the next step is the opening of the accession negotiations. I want to underline that this is a process, not just negotiations. We must start with this process so that we can see changes in various areas, so that the country can be ready for EU membership”, Hahn said.
The Democratic Party MP, Majlinda Bregu, left few hopes that the opposition might change its stance.
“It is important to have all guarantees that this reform is not a bazaar, but a reform that guarantees the rule of law in Albania. As for the failure to implement the court decisions – I think this was one of the main messages of Commissioner Hahn – it is important to be implemented by everyone. It is clear now that there are suspicions that the reform might fail tomorrow”, Majlinda Bregu declared.
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