The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fule, is expected to
visit Tirana next week, on May 3rd, to meet the country’s main political
actors and for holding a speech at the Albanian Parliament.
One day after the Albanian Minister of Integration declared that the realization of the 12 priorities cannot be concluded by September, the European Commission reminded from Brussels that the country must witness concrete and sufficient results in all areas, so that Albania could benefit the candidate status for opening the membership negotiations.
Peter Stano, Spokesperson for the Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fule, reiterated in an interview for Top Channel that for continuing the integration road, Albania must produce a critical mass of results, not only for the political reforms, but for all key priorities set by the EU.
TCH: The Minister of Integration declared this Tuesday in Brussels that the 12 criteria cannot be fulfilled by September, and that some of them require more time. Is it possible for Albania to receive the recommendation for the status this autumn, only by fulfilling the political criteria?
Peter Stano: The deadlines are up to the aspiring country, for all countries under the integration process. Albania has a very clear image of what needs to be done, and these are the 12 criteria set as precondition for the membership negotiations.
It is up to Albania to prove its performance, the speed of the reforms or the speed of the results for fulfilling the 12 key priorities. The commission is following and assessing the progress that has been reached so far. Based on this progress, we will decide if the country has fulfilled the criteria or the obligations, before moving towards other steps in the integration process.
TCH: It seems that the government is not aiming to open the membership negotiations this year, but only the EU candidate status. Is this goal achievable only with the fulfillment of some criteria, and which are they?
Peter Stano: It is up to the aspiring countries to chose their own ambitions and ideas of how this country wants to progress. In every phase of the process, the commission will assess the progress that is made, the fulfillment of the obligations and conditions, at this case, the key priorities. And only after that we will decide or recommend the member countries on what is needed for the country to progress with the integration.
You have the 12 key priorities, and we, as the European Commission, are waiting for the country to try and fulfill them. We are not setting deadlines, but we say that it is important to achieve progress with the reforms, because only based on this progress you will be able to move forward with the European integration. It is up to you and you must keep in mind that the reforms are not only for pleasing the European Commission, but for bringing benefits to your citizens and getting your country closer to the European Union, which I believe is a general goal of the Albanian government and the Albanian people.
TCH: With a critical mass of results, the Commission considers only one part of the criteria, like the electoral or parliamentary reform?
Peter Stano: The answer is very clear: you have 12 key priorities and the results should be given in all of them. It is up to Albania to push forward all the necessary actions for reaching a critical mass of results in all fields.
TCH: Commissioner Stefan Fule will visit Albania on May 3rd. Which is the goal of your visit, and who is he expected to meet?
Peter Stano: The goal of this visit is to preserve the dialogue, to have regular contacts with all interested parties and key actors in the country who have something to say about the integration process and the European reforms, in order to exchange opinions and receive new ideas about the situation in the country, and show how the Commission is perceiving Albania’s efforts. This is the goal of our visit: to be informed for the latest developments, exchange opinions and meet all important actors in Albania for the integration process.
Prepared by: Arta Tozaj
Top Channel
