Hahn: New government focus on Vetting

Ahead of the Western Balkans Summit in Trieste, Nikola Ristic, from the portal Europapean Western Balkans) spoke with Johannes Hahn, EU Commissioner for European Policy of Business and Enlargement Negotiations, in an interview published yesterday.
He talked about the situation in each of the Western Balkan countries, as well as his expectations for this year's Western Balkans Summit.

Albanian politics

The question for Albania regarding the new government and the opposition, Hahn answered that “Now we expect the government to be determined to move the country forward on the path to EU integration through continued reform efforts.

The new government must especially focus on implementing justice reform and the veto process, which is crucial to addressing the fight against organised crime and corruption, writes Albanian.com.

In this direction, the new government must also focus more effectively on the fight against drug trafficking and drug cultivation. It is clear that only with a functioning legal state, the country can progress in general as a democratic society and a stable economy and become an EU member.

A mature opposition, ready to participate in a constructive dialogue, is also the key to the country's constitutional process”.

Summit Expectations

Hahn also responded to the Trieste summit and expectations the Western Balkan countries must have towards the so-called Berlin process.

“One of the key results will be the release of the “annual interconnection package” of transport and energy infrastructure projects. We also hope that leaders will sign the Transport Community Treaty and adopt an action plan to create a Regional Economic Zone. Since its beginning three years ago, the Berlin process has brought a new dynamic to the development and regional co-operation of the Western Balkans with concrete results.

Therefore, I welcome the new constructive ideas, such as those recently launched by the German foreign minister, how to make the process even more dynamic and how to earn more funds to respond to the investment needs of the region”.

Common Market

Asked about Montenegro's scepticism for a joint market project, Hahn said: “I am convinced that greater economic integration will make the region more attractive and competitive.
A regional economic zone is a promising way to create stronger and more stable economic opportunities for the region and the population, and this is a goal that all support. In this direction, Montenegro has played a constructive and active role and has committed itself to working together with regional partners in developing the road map.

Prime Minister Markovic has signaled his full support for the initiative, which builds on accession ambitions during the Montenegrin chairmanship of CEFTA in 2016. Let me also stress that the progressive deepening of economic integration in the region should be based on EU rules and principles. In this way, this initiative will be an important milestone on the road to EU accession and not as they misinterpret an alternative to it”.