EC spokeswoman: Albania has met the conditions for negotiations, we can not wait to start them as soon as possible

The Council of Europe at its meeting a few days ago did not reach an agreement to set a date for the first intergovernmental conference for the opening of negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia.

But European Commission spokeswoman Ana Pisonero, in an interview with MCN, hinted that the decision should not discourage either Tirana or Brussels.

Pisonero says both Albania and northern Macedonia deserve to open negotiations, but avoids questioning whether the time has come for the two countries to split in the integration process. According to her, Albania has achieved stable and tangible results in the main areas defined by the Council of Europe.

She hopes that the first intergovernmental conference for the opening of negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia will be held as soon as possible.

We are conducting this interview as the European Council did not take a decision on the first conference for Tirana and Skopje. How do you rate the lack of a date for both countries?

The Council failed to reach an agreement on a negotiating framework for Albania and northern Macedonia that would allow negotiations to open for both countries. It is clear that from the commission's perspective both countries have met the conditions and it is time to move forward. A lot of work has been done and the Commission has worked with the Portuguese presidency to achieve this goal and I think we are entering the final phase. This process must be closed quickly and we must move forward with Albania and Northern Macedonia as soon as possible.

Let us dwell specifically on Albania. You mention that a lot of work has been done. Are there other criteria that need to be met or for this step, everything has been done?

Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Albania has continued to show commitment and has achieved consistent and tangible results in key areas identified by the Council. Albania's progress in electoral reform and the rule of law, including the implementation of justice reform, but also when it comes to the fight against corruption and organized crime, has received the Commission's assessment that Albania meets the conditions for maintaining the first intergovernmental conference. 

We know that the European Council did not take this decision due to the Bulgarian veto on Veir Macedonia. Is it time for the two countries to split on the road to the EU, so do you think the time has come for the two countries to split?

Komisioni është i bindur se të dy vendet i plotësojnë kushtet dhe ne mezi po presim të mbajmë konferencat e para me të dyja, sa më shpejt.

A mendoni se kjo do të ndodhë në samitin e tetorit apo do të mbajmë shpresë për dhjetorin?  

Ne shpresojmë t’i mbajmë konferencat me të dy vendet sa më shpejt të jetë e mundur. Është bërë shumë punë dhe ne kemi bashkëpunuar ngushtë me presidencën portugeze. Është bërë progres. Po hyjmë në fazën finale dhe na duhet ta ë punvazhdojme punën mbi rezultatet që janë arritur gjatë presidencës portugeze dhe periudhës që vjen më pas. Do të punojmë edhe me presidencën sllovene për këtë objektiv.

Ka pasur disa shtyrje për Shqipërinë dhe MV, pavarësisht nxitjes së disa vendeve europiane për integrimin e Ballkanit Perëndimor në BE. A mendoni se këto shtyrje do të përcaktojnë një mungesë besimi te BE-ja?

Enlargement policies are a merit-based process. Both countries have achieved results and we think we can move forward with the process as soon as possible. This is also a matter of trust for the EU. We expect to hold intergovernmental conferences with both countries as soon as possible, as both have met the conditions to take such a step.