The Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, considered on Monday 1 March that Albania had fulfilled all the necessary conditions for holding its first intergovernmental conference (IGC) with a view to joining the EU.
“The conditions have been met. The Commission will make the necessary proposal and contact the Member States to agree on the organisation of the first intergovernmental conference with Albania as soon as possible”, he explained, referring to the Stabilisation and Association Council with Albania. However, he explained that two Supreme Court judges still had to be appointed, hoping that this would be done before the April elections, so that all the conditions set by the Member States would be met for the first IGC.
“Albania has done everything possible to get the IGC started”, confirmed Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The Commissioner and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, also highlighted the holding of the legislative elections on 25 April 2021, which Mr Várhelyi called “free and fair”. In his view, this constitutes proof that Albania’s democracy works.
Mr Borrell said it is important that voter lists are composed of people of integrity, “which is essential to demonstrate the country’s commitment to fighting corruption”. He reiterated that European integration should be a shared national objective, which required a commitment from all parties for a constructive dialogue. “Increased polarisation is not a sign of a mature democracy”, the High Representative warned. The Commissioner also called for reform work to continue during the election campaign.
For his part, the Albanian Prime Minister explained that it had been difficult for his country to be sidelined in the distribution of vaccines and recalled that the western Balkans were surrounded by EU countries. The country should receive AstraZeneca vaccines, via the Covax Facility. Mr Várhelyi promised that the EU had not forgotten the western Balkans and was working hard to ensure the region had vaccines.
See the joint press statement: http://bit.ly/3kxYpAg (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)