Time for EU to open negotiations with Albania: Croatian envoy for SCAN’s Passport
Croatian Ambassador to Albania Sanja Bujas Juraga in the first TV interview at the show PASSPORT hosted by journalist Arbër Hitaj said that now it is a good time for Albania to open negotiations with the EU after having made visible prognoses.
For the Ambassador, the implementation of the Vetting process on the judicial reform will play a decisive role in this respect.
Further on, she explained that Albania has made a lot of progress, especially in some chapters, where other countries in the region have problems, such as Chapter 23 and 24.
The Croatian ambassador stated that her country was critical of EC President Jean Claude Juncker’s stance when he stated that Serbia and Montenegro have made more reforms as far as membership is concerned, evaluating these statements as detrimental to the credibility of the EU institutions.
Regarding economic co-operation, the Ambassador says that more can be done especially in tourism, or in the growth of trade exchanges.
She further praised the community of Albanians in Croatia, and according to her the figure of Albanians living in Croatia goes to over 20 thousand, underlining that a deputy from this community has been elected in the Parliament.
Asked whether she believes Albania will open negotiations with the European Union in the spring of 2018, Juraga said:
“I would say yes, it is the right time. Personally I think it is time for Albania to open negotiations with the EU, not only because the country deserves it, but also based on the visible progress made so far.
“There is a need for greater engagement in implementing justice reform, and to see tangible examples of how vetting is functioning.
“Albania has made some progress in some chapters, namely the 23rd and 24th, the most difficult ones regarding the rule of law, while some countries in the region have opened negotiations but still have many problems in this regard.
“If Albania is doing well in the judicial reform, there are opportunities, but it will be the EU countries that will decide.
“This period will be very intensive with many meetings, a lot of lobbying, we will have in January the EU’s Bulgarian Presidency, so the coming 6 months are very important and Albania can do a lot,” Juraga said.
SCAN
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