Edi Rama talks about mini-Shengen in the Western Balkans

The idea of a comprehensive regional Schengen and co-operation among six Western Balkan countries, based on the four freedoms of the European Union, is not a replacement but the best way to prepare for EU accession, writes Edi Rama.

In an exclusive editor for “EU RACTIV”, titled “Mini-Shengen is not a “plan B” for the Western Balkans” (the original feature: Mini-Schengen is not a plan B for the Western Balkans) Rama says:

On next Monday (February 17th), the European Commission will organise the international donors' conference for Albania to help rebuild after the November earthquake that has caused so much pain in our country.

After a quick response to our great need for assistance after the natural disaster, the EU is again, generously, moving forward. That is more than helping a country in need, a country that, in the face of a great task, will still find the strength and determination to rise up on this challenge.

We've done it in the past and we'll do it in the future. Moreover, this is not only about reconstruction and reconstruction, although we must move quickly by ensuring that people receive the necessary support and that the final number of 17,000 temporary displaced Albanians can return to a safe house as soon as possible.

The point of history concerns the unbreakable link between the EU and Albania, which justifys any effort to make it stronger and to advance our integration plans.

Some have described last year's EU decision to postpone opening accession negotiations with Albanian «rin and Northern Macedonia as the end of an era and advised us to plan our reform plans beyond the scope of integration and enlargement.

Others have portrayed the lack of agreement among EU member states as a historic mistake, one that opens the door to powerful and medium-sized competition in the Western Balkans.

If we are to stick to our democratic values and seek comprehensive and shared prosperity, there is no alternative for Albania. We must do our job, advance reforms and convince our European partners that we have everything needed to start accession talks now and be future members of the club.

I share the same assessment with our European friends that the enlargement procedure needs an adjustment and welcomes the proposal presented by the European Commission last week for a more reliable and predictable accession process.

My hope is that member states will be able to coalition about this well-designed plan and we will have to structure our co-operation about these new standards. I especially welcome the idea of progressively rewarding success and giving candidate countries the opportunity to engage more with the EU on issues on which they are closer to common standards.

A gradual process of clear reactions and the policy that plays a more prominent role prevents unpleasant surprises and gives us the predictability we need.

Our government will continue to work closely with EU partners and address all their concerns, starting with those related to the quality of democracy and rule of law.

The special police operation against the illegal assets of those convicted or indictees for organised crime and serious crimes in the past three decades is only the beginning of the fiercest war yet against organised crime and corruption, something that is possible today after successful reform in justice and the verification of judges and prosecutors.

Sometimes, Albanian politics can become bad and disputes can affect our international credibility, but I'm sure that in a society where the support of the EU is over 90% and there is no anti-European political party we have the resources to continue on steadily towards a larger goal that is European integration.

It will not be easy and will require transformation of our economic, social and political systems, as has already happened with post-communist countries that have joined the EU starting in 2004. But as we remember so often from fine men and women, where there is will, there is a way.

The EU needs not only stability in the Western Balkans but also reconciliation. The idea of a comprehensive regional Schengen and co-operation among our six countries based on four EU freedoms (free movement of goods, capital, services and labour) is not a Plan B, a comfort award to show a public disappointment we can deliver.

We all share the goal of European integration and the best way to move forward is to prepare actively for it by opening our economies and borders in a way directly inspired by the fundamental principles behind the European project.

A better-connected Western Balkan region will be integrated more quickly and successfully into the EU. While I am preparing for our «conference next week, I am hopeful that this year will bring some progress for Albania in its European prosecutions.

However, we are stubbornly convinced that there is nothing to prevent us from joining the large family of European democracies in due time, and that the victory of our people will also be of the EU.