Saying he was impressed by Albania's progress in terms of reforms, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker stated that if the country continued in this direction, the Commission could recommend the opening of accession negotiations in six months' time.
"We are very happy with what is happening in Albania. If further progress is made by Albania in the next six months – and we think progress will be made – I intend to propose the opening of accession negotiations to the Council of Ministers of member states, but this will depend on the reform path the country takes in the coming months", Juncker said at a press conference in Brussels with Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama. Juncker thus hailed the reform of Albania's judicial system, noted the country's "remarkable progress" in the fight against corruption and underlined its economic performance.
"The (reform) process should be confirmed week after week, month after month, knowing that the next six months will be absolutely fundamental for having the possibility of entering a new phase that will be difficult, but absolutely necessary – that of opening the negotiations", Rama stated.
Juncker's message should be music to the ears of Albania's Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati, who the previous day had called before the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee for the opening of Albania's EU accession negotiations. "Accelerating the enlargement process would show that the EU has a strategic vision. This momentum must be seized and Albania should be told it deserves to enter the negotiation phase", he said, hoping for a clear timetable. Busahti also hoped that "2018 will be an important year" for his country, and that "it will mark a step forwards in the European project". He wanted the EU-Western Balkans summit to be the occasion to reach "a political decision for Albania". This summit will take place on 17 May 2018, in other words in a just over six months. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)