In Tirana on Tuesday 17 July, European Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn officially launched the screening process of the EU acquis in Albania (see EUROPE 12062). A few hours earlier, he had officially launched the same process in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) (see EUROPE 12064).
"Our cooperation has entered a new phase today (17 July)", Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama stated, saying that ordinarily the screening was carried out after the official opening of the negotiations. The Council will give its opinion on the opening of Albania's EU accession negotiations in June 2019 (see EUROPE 12049). "We have 12 months. That's not waiting time, but working time", Rama said, with Hahn saying it was a relatively short time. "All actors need to bring their contribution" to the process, Hahn stated, mentioning especially the parliament and civil society.
Rama added that alongside the screening, Albania would continue its reform work in five priority areas for action (reforms of the judicial system and public administration, progress on fundamental rights, and the fight against corruption and organised crime). Progress in these areas is requested by the member states. "Work must of course continue on reform of the judicial system, particularly through vetting (checks on judges and prosecutors)", Hahn said, hailing the good results already achieved. He also highlighted the need for tangible results in the fight against corruption at all levels, and in the fight against organised crime, especially drug cultivation and trafficking. And although several member states complain of too many asylum requests from Albanian nationals, Hahn commended the work of the Albanian government to reduce this number.
Rama furthermore announced that relations between his country and France and the Netherlands (which oppose the opening of Albania's EU accession negotiations this year) were now much closer and better structured. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)