As announced by the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi (see EUROPE 12436/2), the European Commission considered, on Monday 2 March, that Albania and North Macedonia had made further progress and therefore reiterated its recommendation to open accession negotiations with both countries.
For example, according to the Commission, Albania has made progress in the implementation of the justice reform with the finalisation of the establishment of all independent judicial structures foreseen by the constitutional reform of 2016 and in the vetting process of judges and prosecutors (see EUROPE 12065/10).
The record in the fight against organised crime and corruption has also improved, including in relation to cannabis cultivation and hard drug trafficking. However, while the number of ongoing investigations into corruption cases remains high, to date, final convictions in those involving high-level officials remain limited, the Commission regrets. It also considers that Tirana needs to further strengthen its capacity to fight money laundering and terrorist financing.
The report also notes the agreement on the way forward on electoral reform and the ongoing efforts on illegitimate asylum reforms, with a 26.6% decrease between 2017 and 2019 (7,633 applications in 2017 registered in Member States compared to 5,599 2 years later) (see EUROPE 12288/22).
With regard to North Macedonia, the report notes the "significant steps" taken to strengthen the independence of the judiciary, including the recent adoption of the revised Law on the Prosecutor's Office (see EUROPE 12428/15). Similarly, the country has seen an improvement in its record in the fight against corruption and organised crime and progress in the reform of the intelligence services and public administration. However, it is of the utmost importance that the country continues to take action on any allegations of nepotism or recruitment not based on merit, the Commission said.
On the basis of these reports, but also of the new methodology for the enlargement process proposed by the Commission on 5 February (see EUROPE 12419/2), the European Affairs ministers are expected to decide, at the end of March, whether or not to open accession negotiations.
See the report on Albania: http://bit.ly/39gsUEr and that on North Macedonia: http://bit.ly/2PCPmzK (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)