Albania was unable to receive the candidate status in today’s meeting at the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union.
Five European Union countries, Germany, France, Great Britain, Netherlands and Denmark proposed June 2014. In these moments, the Ministers are reformulating the official decision, but we have learned that there will be no additional conditions.
Top Channel has realized a direct connection with our correspondent in Brussels, Arta Tozaj.
Ilir Paço, “Top-Channel” – The official part of the meeting has ended. What happened during these hours? What do the arguments of the five skeptic countries mean? What has been asked from the Commission? Other conditions, or just more time?
Arta Tozaj, Top Channel’s correspondent in Brussels: “There is no candidate status, and no additional conditions. The European Union has postponed the decision during the Greek presidency, which will lead the European Union from January to June of the next year. The Ministers of the Eu reached a compromise to postpone the reviewing of the status, and the debate continued for reformulating the technical language in the recommendation of December. Despite of the support from the majority, five countries have not agreed to give the status this week, as warned by Top Channel.
Ilir Paço – What was the position that made these countries to look for another time for the status?
Arta Tozaj, Bruksel – They looked for more time to value the results and the stability of the reforms. The country has a new government, and based on the positive work done so far, more time is needed to see this commitment realizing the reforms and the conditions. A new evaluation is expected from the Commission to the Council of Foreign Ministers.
Ilir Paço – What was the reaction of the European Commission, since Mr.Fule has been one of the supporters of the status?
Arta Tozaj, Bruksel – The Commissioner was the first one who said on Twitter that Albania has a clear perspective in June, but we have to keep in mind that besides the Commission, there’s also the Parliament, and regardless of the resolutions and recommendations, they’re not the ones to decide, but the Council of Europe, which is assisted by these two institutions. It is important tu underline that the formulation doesn’t make the process automatic, regardless of the optimism shown by the Commissioner for Enlargement. The status will be valued in June, after they will review the results. They will decide if Albania has made enough by March, and according the recommendations, the member countries will make a review by the end of the Greek persidency.
Rama reacts
The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, commented that this is a compromise of the European Union between the achievements of Albania and the internal stalemate.
Top Channel
