Brussels, 17/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 16 February, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said at the end of a meeting in Brussels with Albania's Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati that the Albanian judicial reform was “on the right track”. The opinion of the Venice Commission is still awaited.
In Hahn's view, implementation of the reform - if this obtains the approval of the Venice Commission - is “extremely important with a view to (Albania's) European integration”. He added that this reform of the judicial sector was “the main objective for the next couple of weeks”. Reform of the judicial system if one of the conditions needed for Albania to be able to open its accession negotiations.
This reform was also discussed during a meeting between Bushati and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. More generally, Bushati and Mogherini discussed Tirana's “important progress” in moving forward with its “bold” programme of reforms and its commitment to continue implementing the reforms, according to a press release from the European External Action Service (EEAS). In addition, they discussed the “strong bilateral cooperation” between the EU and Albania, “including in management of the refugee and migration crisis” and in addressing security challenges.
While Mogherini announced that she would visit Albania in early March, Hahn will be there at the end of March for the next high level EU-Albania dialogue meeting. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)