Brussels, 06/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - While noting on 5 December that it is the member states that decide, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle stated that the measures taken by Albania to fight against corruption and organised crime have strengthened the possibility of granting Albania candidate status at the Council in December. “Albania has shown clear determination to fight corruption and organised crime and therefore reinforced the credibility of the Commission's proposal to grant the country candidate status”, Füle said during his meeting with the leader of the Albanian Parliament, Ilir Meta, and Füle hailed the intensification of the measures taken. In its progress report, the European Commission recommended that candidate status be granted “on the understanding that Albania continues to take action in the fight against organised crime and corruption” (see EUROPE 10944).
Füle also welcomed the unanimous adoption of the resolution on European integration at the Albanian Parliament last week, “a clear signal of improved cooperation between government and opposition”. He said that it is “important to build on the momentum created by the adoption of the resolution to enhance the involvement of the opposition in the EU-reform process”. (CG/transl.fl)