Idealer Flickenstein: Albania deserves opening of negotiations for EU membership

At a press conference, he said Albania is on track to meet all European Union requirements for opening negotiations, stressing that a protest cannot influence the European Parliament's opinion on opening negotiations.

In his address, Flickenstein indicated that during his two-day visit, he has held meetings with Prime Minister Edi Rama, DP Chairman Lulzim Basha and LSI chairman Monica Kryegri.

According to him, Albania is on track. “We think that the Council of Europe should make unconditional opening negotiations with Albania. My visit to your country comes under the Sofia Convention in Bulgaria, to be held in April. My visit is routine and I held important meetings. The majority and opposition must work jointly for the country's European road. The opposition is normal to be critical of, for me it is important that she also expressed a positive spirit in terms of negotiations”, after Flekenstein.

Speaking of the protests, he demanded that the parties maintain that right, but the law must be implemented and cooled. “protests are part of democracy and it is normal that politics has its share in protests. The law is equal to all citizens and police. It matters to me that the protest does not predispose violence. Will that affect the European Parliament's opinion on negotiations? No, it is not a protest that affects the European Union's Parliament's opinion on the issue of opening negotiations”, said Flickenstein, the ATSH.

If I were to block the streets of my country, I'd be killed”, he went on to point out that this is a more personal thought.

He also ruled out the possibility of negotiations between Albania and Greece becoming an obstacle to opening negotiations, he said that “the difficult questions of European parliamentarians and EU countries we reserve positive answers to Albania. I don't think the maritime border issue with Greece will affect the opening of negotiations. Albania and Greece have developed positive tables to solve problems between them”, he said.

“Albania has met all the requirements, or at least it is on track to meet them. Justice and Vetting reform has begun. And a host of other issues are moving on the right track. I'm not saying they have been accomplished, but Albania is working hard to realise them, and we are confident that with co-operation between the majority and opposition that this goal will be reached”, Flickenstein said.

I wish that in September, which I have the next visit here, we will be celebrating the start of negotiations and discuss the other major challenges ahead of us”, Europarliamentary Knut Flickenstein concluded.