The Netherlands remains firmly committed to the EU perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans;
The EU’s enlargement policy is based on fair and rigorous conditionality to make sure reforms in countries aspiring to join the Union are sustained and irreversible and track records are solid.
The Netherlands appreciates and welcomes the steps Albania has taken, especially with regard to judicial reform and the vetting process. The vetting process is a truly remarkable process, unique for the region.
There are, however, also steps, particularly in the fight against corruption and organized crime, that Albania still needs to take before meeting the benchmarks set by the Council in June 2018 before accession negotiations can be opened. In light of this, the NL parliament on the 12th of June adopted a motion requesting the government not to agree to open negotiations with Albania. A decision by the General Affairs Council of 18 June to open accession negotiations would be premature.
We strongly encourage the government of Albania to continue on its path. We recognize how challenging the accession process is and we will continue to support Albania in its reforms as much as we can, especially in the crucial area of rule of law.
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