Yesterday German MP Mark Hauptmann declared his support for the opening of EU accession negotiations with Albania.
Following a meeting with the head of the Socialist parliamentary group leader Taulant Balla, the CDU MP stated:
As you are aware, there is debate within the EU regarding whether the EU should include the Western Balkans or not.
I think that we should begin negotiations with Albania, because, for us, this is not the end of reforms, only the beginning.
I will encourage my colleagues to support the opening of Albania’s accession negotiations.
Hauptmann praised the reform agenda Albania is currently following and said that reforms cannot progress without EU support.
It seems that German MPs, who will vote to determine the stance the German government will take regarding opening accession negotiations, are still assessing what position they will take. More MPs from Germany and other EU countries are expected to visit Albania in the following days, in order to inspect the country’s progress up-close. Prime Minister Edi Rama had previously ridiculed such visits of foreign MPs.
A few days ago, Gunther Krichbaum, Chairman of the EU Affairs Commission in the Bundestag, was firm in his position that Albania is still not ready for opening negotiations. Additionally, a group of Dutch MPs expressed scepticism regarding Albania’s reforms and progress.
EU Member States will vote at the end of June on the opening of accession negotiations with Albania and Macedonia.
