MEP Schieder: Albania opens the last group chapter of negotiations in November
MEP Andres Schieder stated at a media conference in Tirana that Albania's accession process to the European Union is progressing well and there are high hopes that most chapters will be completed by 2026.
"This means that 2026 will be the year that the chapters are closed one after the other. It is a very strict process. The European Commission makes the assessment and the Council and the European Parliament make the approval. We look at whether the conditions have been met or not," he said.
Schieder expressed confidence that most chapters will be closed next year and will be completely closed by 2027.
But according to him, it is even more important that the laws are implemented. "The opportunities are there if the things that need to be done are done. Albania is one of the countries in the middle of Europe, tourism shows that many EU citizens come and see what life is like in Albania, how modern Albania is, so I say there are opportunities," he added.
Schieder emphasized that in order to enter the European system, the challenges facing the country include the fight against corruption and organized crime and having a professional judicial system.
In this regard, he assessed that the process is getting better and better and it seems that Albania is taking this process very seriously by thoroughly investigating everyone, regardless of whether they belong to the government, the opposition or are businessmen.
"This creates a lot of political discussions, but European standards would say that the judicial system is for prosecutors, judges, lawyers, not politicians. Politics is not allowed to enter this process," Schieder added.
Speaking about EU enlargement, Schieder said that Austrians are among the 5 most skeptical countries about enlargement, but it is the duty of politicians to explain to them the opportunities that enlargement presents.
Regarding Albania, Schieder said that the country is on the right track and must continue on that path by implementing reforms and seeing things through to the end.
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