Brussels, 23/11/2105 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday 22 November, European Council President Donald Tusk called on Albania to continue its reform efforts.
“This is crucial to address the outstanding challenges, and to allow Albania to make further steps on its path towards the European Union”, he said at a press conference in Tirana with Albanian prime minister, Edi Rama. “We agreed on the importance of cross-party support to finalise key outstanding reforms, in particular a reform of the judiciary, which should strengthen the independence, accountability, efficiency and professionalism of the judicial system”, he said. On 10 November (see EUROPE 11429) the European Commission had also asked for results on the rule of law, and the fight againt corruption and organised crime. Tusk hailed Albania's “steady” progress in the fight against corruption and organised crime, as indicated in the 2015 progress report (see EUROPE 11429). “There is no alternative to the European path. I am convinced you will achieve it”, he told Rama.
Tusk hailed Albania's alignment with the EU's common foreign and security policy, “such as our joint response to Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty”. “This is also a clear sign that Albania is a reliable partner for the EU”, he added.
In addition, Tusk and Rama discussed migration issues. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)