Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, took part today in the informal gathering of the EU's General Affairs Council.
In a post-meeting declaration, Hasani reiterated that during the informal session of the EU's General Affairs Council, marking the 20th anniversary of the EU enlargement (2004), significant discourse revolved around the paramount issue of the rule of law within the Berlin Process.
"The foundational principle of the rule of law, integral to the EU, holds immense significance for candidate nations, Albania included. It underpins their journey towards consolidating democratic governance and establishing functional market economies aligned with EU regulations. Moreover, it informs the European aspirations of our respective nations to secure EU membership," said Hasani.
In his address, Hasani lauded Albania's strides in comprehensively reforming its rule of law framework, including the establishment of autonomous judicial bodies and the fortification of specialized units combating crime and corruption. He underscored the tangible and enduring outcomes stemming from these reforms.
Hasani expressed gratitude for the political backing extended by the EU and its member states in bolstering Albania's rule of law, encompassing economic restructuring efforts.
"I commended the endorsement of the Growth Plan, particularly emphasizing the significance of the growth and reform facilitation mechanism, poised to catalyze substantive progress in Albania's implementation efforts within the accession negotiation framework," Hasani added.
Highlighting the imperative for these reforms to be irreversible, Hasani stressed the necessity for their palpable impact on citizens and for accession negotiations, which commenced in July 2022 with Albania, to regain lost momentum.
"Our immediate objective should be the convening of the second intergovernmental conference, heralding negotiations on foundational chapters pertaining to the rule of law and democratic institutions," asserted Hasani.
Reiterating during the meeting the critical role of regional collaboration in rule of law reforms, Hasani urged for the process to resonate tangibly with citizens, advocating for accelerated integration with EU mechanisms and programs for the rule of law. This, he emphasized, would enable Albanian citizens to envisage Albania as an integral part of Europe and the European Western Balkans even before formal accession to the EU.
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