Albania's PM Praises Progress Report

Tirana 14 October 2009

Helmut Lohan and Sali BerishaAlbanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha has praised the European Commission, EC, progress report on Albania, during a meeting with the EC delegation head in Tirana, Helmut Lohan.

“We have passed a very important test, in front of Albania's citizens, our international friends and the European Commission: the [parliamentary] elections. And, in this context, the EU has a very objective valuation,” Berisha said in a statement. “All the objective criticism [...] in the report towards the government and the institutions in our country, will be treated seriously,” he added.

Brussels says in the progress report that the June 28 parliamentary elections met most international standards, although “further efforts are needed to address the shortcomings identified”. The opposition Socialist Party has contested the result of the election, claiming it was marred by fraud, and has since launched a boycott of parliament.

Albania has applied for EU membership. More than six months have passed since submission, and the EU Council has yet to authorise the EC to start preparing an opinion, or “avis” on Albania’s readiness to join the bloc. The Commission has reiterated that it is ready to start preparations for the opinion, “once invited by the Council".

“Albania needs to make progress, in particular, regarding the rule of law and, notably, the fight against corruption, as well as the proper functioning of state institutions, especially the independence of the judiciary”, the EC report says. Administrative and enforcement capacities require further strengthening, it adds.

Speaking to reporters after passing the EC report to the Albanian government, Lohan said that “the relationship between the EU and Albania is encouraging”. “I welcome the interest expressed [by the government in] the report, and the attention that it will receive in the coming months,” he added.