Opposition leader Lulzim Basha stated that a negative decision of the European Council on opening accession talks with Albania “was not what we wanted or what I was hoping for,” Euractiv reported.
Following yesterday’s developments at the European Council summit, were chances for the opening of EU accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia seemed very slim, Basha stated that the nine conditions set by Germany should be Albania’s roadmap for the future.
“Now all our energy and focus must be to complete our homework. Germany has laid down nine conditions that provide the roadmap for opening accession negotiations. In addition, we must effectively combat crime and corruption and provide opportunities to our citizens, which will help reduce illegal immigration. I am confident that my country has the potential to fulfill all these criteria. Now we need leadership that will realize Albania’s full potential.”
In September, the Bundestag decided for Germany to vote in favor of opening accession talks with Albania, but set several conditions to be met before the talks actually started. The most immediate ones included the forming of the High Court and Constitutional Court, as well as approval of the electoral reform.
Several other conditions are set for later stages of accession talks, including implementation of electoral reform, filing of charges against prosecutors and judges dismissed by the vetting process, as well as against those involved in vote-rigging, a resolution on the war against organized crime and corruption.
The opposition left the parliament in February this year, and started protests against the ruling Socialist government of Prime Minister Edi Rama, which they accuse of rigging the elections in collusion with criminal groups, corruption and state capture.
