21 minutes agoAlbania withdraws from “gold passports”
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)European Union diplomacy chief Josep Borrell stated in Tirana that the Government of Albania has withdrawn from its initiative for its “golden passports”, which had sparked disagreement between the Albanian state and Brussels. At a joint media conference with Borrell, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said his government will wait [...]
At a joint media conference with Borrell, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said his government will wait for the European Court's decision regarding the “golden passports”.
“E have suspended the process, until it is clarified at the European level. This initiative is no longer launched at the table, without seeing how the European Court will decide. If this court decides against, it will be a closed case”, Rama said.
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In the European Commission's Progress Report, the initiative for “was criticised in the Albanian section.
“Such schemes pose risks related to security, money laundering, tax evasion, terrorism financing and infiltrated organised crime and are incompatible with EU legislation. As a candidate country [for EU membership], Albania must refrain from developing such a scheme”, the Progress Report said.
Rama had for the first time mentioned the initiative for “gold passports” in 2019, and the Albanian opposition has repeatedly voiced itself against this initiative.
At the media conference in Tirana, Borrell also spoke of Albania's path towards the EU, arguing Tirana has made progress for membership in the European bloc.
We are here to show the Albanian people that the EU is closer to you as an EU candidate country. I want to accept and appreciate that this country has shown maturity in all reforms, especially in justice that has moved on. Albanian institutions must speed up reforms”, he said.
Last year, Albania, together with Northern Macedonia, began membership negotiations in the European bloc.
Western Balkans Road to EU Membership
Of the countries in the Western Balkan region, Serbia and Montenegro are more advanced on their path to the EU, as the two states have only opened chapters in negotiations for membership.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2022 has received candidate status.
Meanwhile, Kosovo is the last on the road to the EU. Last December, Pristina applied for EU membership, while so far the state has signed only a contractual agreement with the EU, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, respectively, in October 2015.
