Status: Fule will visit Tirana again

The Director for Balkan at the European Commission, Jean-Eric Paquet, declared in an interview for Top channel that soon they will prepare a new report for Albania and the candidate status. He says that this document will reflect the latest developments, especially in the fight against corruption and organized crime.

TCH: What are your concerns regarding the candidate status, since you will report once again for the member countries, as the Council decided this December?

Paquet: I believe that this process is undergoing. What happened in December was for me a visible recognition of what has happened in Albania during 2013. Same as the European Union institutions, all member countries were impressed by the achievements of Albania during 2013. Certainly, on the other hand, the member countries thought that the work done for the reforms, on which the government has taken a commitment in September, was very short due to the time. Now we will prepare another report to show to the next Council in June. This report will be prepared with our partners and our administration, so that we can reflect the continuity of the reform process, especially for corruption and organized crime, which are two of the most important areas of reforms that the country needs. We will also try to cover the efforts for the other reforms in general, and based on this, the Council declared that they are looking forward to decide about Albania’s candidate status.

TCH: Have you been satisfied with what has happened so far in our country?

Paquet: The progress for the work done in October was very impressive, but as I said during 2013, you know that Commissioner Fule and we as staff have positive valuations for the work that has been made from October to December. But this work will continue. We’re only a few days after December, if we take in consideration the holidays. Now we will turn back to work. I was to Tirana a few days ago, but the most important thing is that the Commissioner Fule will visit Tirana after a few weeks (February) and the efforts for reforms are on and they must continue. This is what I hear clearly from your government and your Parliament. This is part of the European agenda too.

TCH: Commissioner Fule is visiting for a high-level dialogue…

Paquet: As it was agreed during his previous visit in Tirana, in early Decembr, this visit will be part of the second session of the High Level Dialogue, but certainly it will be the right moment to discuss with the government and some opposition representatives, especially Mrs.Bregu, who leads the Integration Commission, since she is part of this dialogue. It will be about the current situation and the expectancies during 2014.

TCH: Is it possible that besides giving the candidate status, in case of a positive decision in June, there could be a chance to start the accession negotiations, maybe without appointing a date?

Paquet: I think that the government is focused on the candidate status for the moment. This is a wise approach. Certainly, there are several reforms and other works that are undergoing in Albania, and we are preparing the terrain for the next phase of the decision. But I think that their focus for now is the candidate status, and this is part of the agenda for June 2014.

Prepared by: Arta Tozaj / Top Channel

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