The former Foreign Minister of Albania, Ditmir Bushati, is in Slovenia at the invitation of the former president Borut Pahor, within the group of “friends of the Western Balkans”, where discussions are taking place with representatives of the countries of the region and the EU member states on the process of European expansion.
According to him, the enlargement of the EU is increasingly seen as part of the consolidation of the European project and its role in the global arena, while emphasizing that reforms in the rule of law and political will are essential for the progress of the candidate countries.
Referring to the region, Bushati evaluates as positive news the decision to start preparations for the accession treaty for Montenegro, describing it as a clear signal that EU countries are ready to complete its integration process.
As for Albania, he emphasizes that the discussions on the IBAR instrument and on the chapters on the rule of law are still in progress and that a full consensus has not yet been reached among the member countries. According to him, some countries expect stronger evidence in the fight against organized crime and corruption.
Bushati expresses the hope that in the coming weeks Albania will move forward in the integration process and be involved in the same dynamic with Montenegro towards the conclusion of negotiations with the EU.
Ditmir Bushati: Greetings from Ljubljana! Today, 17 years ago, Albania submitted its application for membership in the European Union. 17 years later, I am in Slovenia at the invitation of President Pahor, within the group of friends of the Western Balkans to discuss with colleagues from the countries of the region, and with representatives of the governments of the key member countries of the European Union regarding our path towards the EU.
Now the EU expansion process is being seen as part of the consolidation of the European project and the positioning and role of Europe in the international arena alongside other actors with global weight. In this context, the need for geo-political alignment and for real in-depth reforms in the field of the rule of law is greater than ever. The best news from the region is that for Montenegro, the decision of the member states to start drafting the accession treaty of Montenegro to the EU, which sends a clear political message to the region that the EU countries are ready to host Montenegro as the 28th EU country.
For Albania, discussions on IBAR, on the report of intermediate milestones in the field of the rule of law, are continuing. The critical mass of support from the member countries has not yet been reached, apparently some of them have not made the final decision and are waiting for irrefutable evidence of our political will in the fight against organized crime and corruption. I very much wish that in the following days and weeks, IBAR will be approved and Albania will also enter with Montenegro on the way to the conclusion of membership talks. I really wish that the entire Albanian political class, starting from the government, has read this new geopolitical context and this kindness of the countries of the European Union and that we are at the height that history calls us by not wasting this important historical moment.
