Brussels, 30/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 30 April, the European Parliament called on Albania to continue its reform efforts. The country obtained its accession candidate status in June 2014 (see EUROPE 11107).
In the resolution on the 2014 monitoring report on Albania by Knut Fleckenstein (S&D, Germany) that they adopted, MEPs “encourage the authorities to step up their efforts in their work on the priorities” - reform of public services, strengthening the judicial apparatus, the fight against corruption and organised crime, and human rights - and “to establish a solid basis for their implementation”.
Stating that “a professional public administration is needed for the success of all the other reforms”, the Parliament calls for efforts to be continued in this area. The country must also strengthen the rule of law and reform the judicial apparatus and the operation of justice, according to the MEPs. Albania must “seriously” strengthen measures at fighting corruption and organised crime and the trafficking of human beings, which remain “sizeable” problems, the MEPs add.
Concerned at the permanent and persistent split between the Albanian political forces, the European Parliament calls on the Albanian majority in power and on the opposition to continue their efforts with a view to establishing a true political dialogue and cooperating constructively. The Parliament calls on all the political parties to strengthen the democratic consensus “which is essential to move forward on the path to accession”. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)