5 minutes agoReport on Albania: EC recommendations in most cases have been partially implemented
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)The European Commission praised today during the publication of Albania's Annual Report that the country has generally maintained a high level of ambition to move forward in membership negotiations, noting that the ongoing process of membership talks should lead to a acceleration of EU-related reforms. In the fields [...]
In key areas it turns out that recommendations left by the European Commission, in most cases only partially implemented, and in some cases have not been implemented. The report also states that the government continued to adopt policies and laws, raising concerns about respecting EU standards.
Albania was able to launch concrete membership talks two weeks ago with the opening of the first chapter known as the Foundations, including important areas since the Judiciary and Basic Rights, justice and security, public procurement, statistics and financial control. This year's report starts just with analysis of the situation in these areas.
The commission first calls an assessment of democratic developments, stopping at parliament, whose monitoring of the government, according to the report, remains limited. It speaks of high polarisation and clashes between the majority and opposition “due to alleged rights restrictions”, it says in the report.
As for the government, the European Commission says it continued to show its commitment to EU integration, but on the other hand it noted that the “government continued to adopt policies and laws, raising concerns about respecting EU standards. Disturbing remains the division of responsibilities between local government and central”.
By focusing on chapters that are part of the initial talks, the joint one is that the country is estimated to be “intermediately prepared”, but while the specific areas are assessed, in the vast majority of cases it turns out that recommendations left by the European Commission have only been partially implemented, while in some cases have not been implemented.
Regarding the functioning of the judiciary “concerns over efforts for political interference and pressure on the judicial system, as well as shortcomings in appointments, which should be merit-based, non-imaginal members of the High Judicial Council (KLGJ) and the Supreme Prosecutor's Council (KLP) and for their integrity”.
As far as fighting corruption is concerned, Albania is estimated to be “between being somewhat prepared and on average prepared, and that it has shown some progress”.
The report praises the results of the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in tracking and investigating complex anticorruption issues, including those related to politicians and high-level officials, as well as issues involving the protection of EU financial interests. However, it is noted that <x0-> corruption remains a serious concern, and preventative efforts have had a limited impact”.
Even for the fight against organised crime, it is the SPAK, who has received estimates, but the country is required that “continue to work to ensure the independence of its law enforcement agencies”.
In two areas, “fundamental rights” and “freedom of expression”, Albania turns out to have failed to implement the recommendations issued by the European Commission a year ago. / VOA
