Brussels, 19/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 19 June, the uncertainty continued as regards granting Albania the status of EU accession candidate. The General Affairs Council is due to decide on this issue in Luxembourg on 24 June.
On Wednesday 18 June, the ambassadors from six EU countries did not reportedly give their agreement to granting candidate status. Germany, France and the UK are apparently more reluctant - as is the Netherlands. These countries had previously stated their opposition in December to granting Albania accession candidate status (see EUROPE 10987). And while Denmark, which was also blocking this status at the end of 2013, now seems to be in favour of granting it, Spain and the Czech Republic now apparently have doubts about it. The ambassadors therefore decided to leave the heavy task up to their ministers of deciding whether or not to grant Albania this status. “I would not say that there are countries that are blocking it, but there are some that are not totally convinced”, a European source stated.
By contrast, many countries support granting Albania this accession candidate status. In a joint letter, 16 foreign affairs ministers from the EU have reiterated their backing. According to the ministers from Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Cyprus, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta, Albania's commitment and its progress (described in the European Commission's report of 4 June - see EUROPE 11094) “clearly merit the EU's recognition”. This report underlines Tirana's progress in fighting corruption and organised crime, and in reforming its judicial system. The Commission recommended granting Albania accession candidate status. The 16 EU foreign affairs ministers state that granting the status would encourage Albania to continue the momentum of its reforms.
The Council's conclusions text, prepared by the ambassadors, is reportedly rather fussy. “There are different ways of writing things”, said a source. The text could underline that Albania should fulfil all the necessary criteria, for the next stages, remaining vague and leaving quite a wide margin of appreciation. However, under the influence of the less convinced countries, it could also be much more precise and detailed regarding the conditions to be fulfilled. According to the draft conclusions, the member states would reportedly ask the European Commission to step up its monitoring and assessment of the situation. (CG)