Strasbourg, 01/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - Hailing Albania's being granted EU accession candidate status, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso called on the country on 30 June “to continue and intensify a systematic approach to reforms” so as to make progress on the path leading to EU membership.
“Albania should focus on the key priorities identified, with particular attention to the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organised crime, and the reform of the judiciary”, Barroso stated while visiting Tirana, adding that he was glad to see that the Albanian government shares these priorities. He also highlighted the economic reforms that will contribute to consolidating Albania's macroeconomic, budgetary and financial stability, as well as the structural reforms that “will create more favourable conditions for investment and economic growth”.
Barroso discussed with Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama the next steps and challenges that await Tirana. “I am confident that entering this new chapter will provide an additional incentive to Albania to tackle these challenges with vigour and determination”, Barroso stated. He told the Albanian Parliament that granting candidate country status was going to open a new and promising phase (see EUROPE 11110) and he hoped that this would give a further boost to Albania's reform agenda and additional progress on Albania's European path.
Reiterating that European integration should be an “inclusive process where the entire Albanian society plays a part”, Barroso encouraged the government and opposition “to cooperate constructively, to deliver the results which their country expects”. He called on the Albanian Parliament to work in a European spirit and to remain faithful to the Albanian Parliament's resolution on European integration -which was adopted by unanimity in November 2013. Barroso also hailed the work on implementing a new National Council for European integration, as a mechanism of broad consultation that would enable national consensus on European integration to be consolidated. (CG)