Alexander Van der Bellen called on Albania on Monday for further reforms in the areas of fundamental rights, the rule of law and the judiciary. “We want to motivate and encourage Albania to continue with the necessary reforms especially in these areas and to show visible results to make rapid progress on the path towards EU integration,” said the Austrian Federal President in the capital Tirana. .
“From my point of view, this could also mean abandoning one or the other project under discussion, if it could otherwise undermine the credibility of the reform process,” the president warned during a meeting with his counterpart Bajram Begaj. the Golden Passports program, recently suspended under pressure from the EU. The EU commission had criticized the fact that wealthy foreigners were offered Albanian citizenship and thus visa-free access to the EU in exchange for investment. However, Tirana has so far refused to abandon plans for a tax amnesty, which have also been criticized by the EU.
Albanian dream of “uniting with the EU”
The Albanian president thanked Van der Bellen for Austria’s support in the accession process and reaffirmed “Albania’s determination to swiftly proceed with the necessary reforms”. “Albania and Albanians have been dreaming of uniting with the European Union for 32 years,” said Begaj.
Van der Bellen picks up the pace
Van der Bellen also praised the progress of the so-called EU screening process as “very good” and promised Albania continued support in the EU accession process. It is now time to speed up the process of rapprochement with the EU, he said. It is true that no date can be given for Albania’s accession to the EU, “but hopefully it won’t be longer than it was between Austria and the EU at the time,” said the Federal President with great optimism.
Albania “completely on the side of Ukraine”
The Russian offensive war in Ukraine was also a subject of discussion with Begaj. The Federal President welcomed the fact that “Albania is completely on the side of Ukraine”. With regard to normalization talks between Serbia and Kosovo, both sides expressed confidence in the recent rapprochement. Although there is no signature yet, it is “an approach whose importance should certainly not be underestimated,” says Van der Bellen.
Albania is the first stop on a four-day trip to the Western Balkans by the Federal President together with Zadic and a large business delegation led by WKO Vice President Martha Schultz. A meeting between Van der Bellen and Prime Minister Edi Rama was scheduled for the afternoon. Van der Bellen would then open an economic forum with his counterpart. On Tuesday the journey continues to North Macedonia.
Source: Krone
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