Highlighting the progress made by Albania in implementing priority issues for the opening of accession negotiations, Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Johannes Hahn announced on Wednesday 9 November the Commission’s recommendation that accession talks be opened with Tirana, “subject to credible and tangible progress in the implementation of the justice reform, in particular with regard to the re-evaluation of judges and prosecutors” (Ed: “vetting”)
“We must have clear and credible proof that it is working on the ground. Only results count”, he said as he presented the 2016 enlargement package. The Albanian Parliament adopted the constitutional amendments on judicial reform in July.
In its 2016 progress report, the Commission calls for electoral reform before the general election in 2017 and for further progress “to consolidate achievements towards a more efficient, depoliticised, and professional public administration”. Similarly, while highlighting action taken to tackle corruption, it states that “further progress is needed to establish a solid track record of investigations, prosecutions and convictions” and “to tackle corruption at high level”.
Albania should “take immediate and determined action … to effectively address” the high number of unfounded asylum applications lodged by Albanian nationals, the Commission adds. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)