The European Parliament President, Martin Schulz, declared that the
elections of 2013 have a great importance for the EU candidate status of
Albania. He says that the status depends from the interior political
stability.
Schulz notes that the political situation in Tirana has improved, but the tensions have not disappeared yet.
Top Channel: Mr. Schulz, which is the stance of the European Parliament for Albania, which hopes to received the EU candidate status recommendation?
Martin Schulz: We are waiting for the analysis of Stefan Fule, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and of our rapporteurs at the European Parliament. My feeling is that in the recent months, the country has become less stable. Both sides, the government and the opposition are making efforts to dialogue with each other, since this is a precondition for any kind of improvement in the country. We have noted that there is an improved situation, although the tensions have not disappeared yet. But we hope that they are reduced. The EU candidate status depends from the domestic stability in the country. As president of the European Parliament I cannot say anything before the result. I have no rights to interfere publicly, but I have some hope that the situation this time is better than during the previous years, and this will certainly influence the progress report.
Top Channel: Will the next elections be a condition?
Martin Schulz: Free and honest elections and the regulation of international standards is always the best instrument to show that the country is on the right democratic track. It is clear that not only the electoral result, but the way how the elections will be organized, is a gigantic matter of very high importance.
Prepared by: ARTA TOZAJ
Top Channel
