Albania in April hosts invitation to open EU negotiations

Minister Bushati further stressed that Albania expects the opening of negotiations with the EU in April.

Speaking at the European Integration Academy and Negotiate, Bushati said the dates are important that the countries motivate.

The second issue worth stopping is the sterile debate over dates. The strategy offers a horizon under which each of the countries, and countries all together, have the opportunity to exploit instruments in the function of their enlargement perspective. It's not a date issue. Dates are important that motivate countries to move forward. The date is read on our part as an incentive but not a goal in itself. Important part of the strategy is the European Commission's clear call to focus on the reform process. I have tried to say and at the meeting of foreign ministers that are important reforms, but reforms in the area of rule of law cannot be considered isolated from a sustainable economic development. Therefore, it is important for the EU and the Western Balkans to place these two components of the enlargement strategy on a weightier scale. The other factor we need to take into account is the fact that there are still bilateral disputes in the region related to issues of citizenship recognition, co-operation in terms of international tributals and whether or not European affiliation in concrete actions. There are hot potatoes that when it comes to the debate on dates will have to be taken into account because the strategy learns lessons from all other enlargement processes by deciding whether to resolve or address bilateral issues by the countries themselves, at a moment before these countries are member of”, Bushati said.

The enlargement strategy presented in early February by the EU said the foreign minister brings for the first time in years a document with strategic marks for the Western Balkans and key words, transformation, enlargement and consolidation of reforms are related to each other.