Brussels, 13/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 12 November, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle launched the high-level dialogue with Albania on the country's five priorities - public administration reform, justice, fighting corruption, fighting organised crime, and strengthening human rights. The dialogue is intended to help EU-Albania cooperation and support Tirana to maintain its focus on the reforms and political consensus needed for the country to make progress on its European path. Füle reiterated the need for constructive political dialogue between the government and opposition - a dialogue that he described as crucial for reinvigorating the reform process.
At the end of the first dialogue which lasted nearly three hours and which Füle described as an excellent start with excellent discussions on the progress made on the rule of law and the fight against corruption and organised crime, he stated that a concrete roadmap had been agreed upon for future meetings on how the Albanian authorities want to move forward on the priorities with EU help and aid.
The EU and Albania agreed to strengthen the inclusion component in their dialogue. Füle approved the intention of the Albanian government to form a platform for national dialogue on European integration involving the opposition and civil society. This will enable national consensus on the European agenda to be more consolidated, Füle stated.
He announced that another dialogue meeting will take place at the beginning of next year and that, by the time of the next progress report in October 2014, there will have been four rounds of the dialogue - although the number really depends on the themes of their agenda and on the two parties' wishes.
Albania must make progress on the five priorities before the European Commission can recommend that negotiations be opened. On 16 October, the Commission proposed granting Albania candidate status and the member states must now decide on this. The Albanian government must continue its efforts at fighting against corruption and organised crime so that the member states might fully embrace the idea of granting candidate status, Füle stated. The Council is due to discuss the issue in December. Several countries are reportedly sceptical, however, about granting Albania candidate status because they do not think that Albania's efforts against corruption and organised crime are enough. (CG/transl.fl)