A new chapter in Albania’s EU integration: Deserved recognition and strong encouragement to pursue reform

The ‘freeze’ on accessions in the next five years is simply a form of stating an already known fact: none of the pre-accession countries will be ready for membership before the elapse of this period. Accession negotiations take time, as does fulfilling the conditions for their opening. The undertaking of sustainable reforms that firmly establish the rule of law, democracy, and prosperity takes time.
By CLIVE RUMBOLD
The significance of changes within the Union and Albania’s achievement of candidate status certainly merits our attention.
I will focus my remarks today on the changes within the Union, and their alleged implications for the region’s EU membership prospects. Specifically, I will focus on the new Juncker Commission and its approach. This will lead us to Albania and her challenges as a candidate country.
So, first, the Juncker Commission.
The elephant in the room is the so-called ‘freeze’ on new accessions to the Union over the next five years. This was announced by the new President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, in July.
Does this mean Enlargement has been downgraded? Does this mean the EU is going back on its commitment to the region? Does this mean that the efforts of pre-accession countries have been in vain? Does this mean Albania should take a break in the EU-related reform process?
I’m here today to tell you that the answer is a firm ‘No’.
The ‘freeze’ on accessions in the next five years is simply a form of stating an already known fact: none of the pre-accession countries will be ready for membership before the elapse of this period.
Accession negotiations take time, as does fulfilling the conditions for their opening. The undertaking of sustainable reforms that firmly establish the rule of law, democracy, and prosperity takes time.
In the next five years, we will not see a new member state of the European Union. But after these five years, we can, and it is important that we do see a number of countries more prepared for membership; that we see countries making maximum use of these years to get real reforms done.
Every year, Albania’s proximity to the European Union will depend on its proximity with: the rule of law; a solid track record in the fight against corruption and organised crime; and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms.
It is the pace of your reforms and of their sustained implementation that determine the distance from the European Union – and the time it will take to join it.
This has always been the case. There has never been a set timeframe to join the EU. There have always been – and there always will be – standards to be met, in a sustained and credible manner.
In this sense, I beg to disagree with the assertion in the brief for today’s conference that the countries sharing candidate status, share little else.
Quite the contrary, they share the same aspirations. They share the same standards to be met. They share the same process of meeting the fundamentals first. They share involvement and commitment to a process, based on the ‘own merits’ principle and strict but fair conditionality. And their citizens will share the same benefits.
You may have noticed two things in the language of the European Union – especially in the European Commission’s progress reports and relevant Council decisions.
First, there is a systematic reference to past decisions and policy documents.
Second, the profusion of words like “sustain”, “maintain”, “continue”, “further”, “implementation”, “momentum”.
On the one hand, by referring to past decisions, the Council reminds us that the conditions towards EU membership do not change. On the other, the Council reminds us that just as we sustain our requirements, aspiring countries need to sustain their delivery on reform commitments.
The discussion, therefore, is about your efforts; what you do to move forward. Changes within the EU have not had any impact on our commitment to your EU perspective, or on the standards that you need to meet. And I believe that the EU, during the Italian presidency of the Council, will remain committed to this approach.
This June, Albania began a new chapter in its bid for EU membership. First, this is well-deserved recognition of the hard work and the progress made by Albania on its EU path. Second, it is strong encouragement to pursue the reform process with determination. In particular, Albania’s authorities carry the responsibility of delivering the next step – accession negotiations. This is a responsibility shared by all.
The Juncker Commission and the EU as a whole is far from reneging on this commitment. The re-structured Commission features a Commissioner responsible for Neighbourhood and Enlargement negotiations. Simply put, there will neither be a ‘freeze’ on accession negotiations nor will non-negotiating countries be out of its scope.
In order to open accession negotiations, Albania has a clear agenda ahead: the sustained, comprehensive and inclusive implementation of the five key priorities, notably the reform of the public administration and the judiciary, the fight against organised crime and corruption, the protection of human rights and anti-discrimination policies including in the area of minorities and their equal treatment, and implementation of property rights.
Albania needs to redouble its efforts to push forward reform in these areas. Key reforms have been launched already. We look forward to seeing them pursued vigorously.
Smooth implementation of the new legal framework in the areas of public administration, fight against corruption and organised crime legislation is now vital.
A thorough and ambitious reform of the judiciary, with a view to strengthening its independence, accountability and efficiency, remains essential. The judiciary is crucial to progress in the fight against corruption and organised crime. It is therefore important that the forthcoming joint judicial conference allows for the launch of a comprehensive, consistent and inclusive reform process.
Anything less would be unsustainable. As Commissioner F