TIRANA, June 11 /ATA/ – Albania deserves to open the accession negotiations with the European Union as the country has delivered on all reforms, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker stated at a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama in Brussels on Tuesday, reiterating the European Commission’s full support for Albania’s path towards EU membership.
“Albania has delivered on reforms and the country deserves to open the EU membership negotiations. Albania has implemented a major reform in justice system. A reform for equal justice that Albanians deserve. Albania has delivered on the required criteria and therefore the European Council should open the accession negotiations with Albania,” Juncker said.
“It is not a secret that some EU member states have some concerns about certain areas. I have assured Prime Minister Rama that I would be happy to defend every line of the European Commission’s assessment on the reform progress to support the process. The work doesn’t stop in June regardless what the decision of the Council of Ministers will be,” Juncker said.
“Albania will continue to maintain the reform momentum and the fight against corruption and organized crime. All political parties should constructively engage in the democratic institutions to push forward with Albania’s European perspective,” Juncker said.
“I am in favor of opening the negotiations with Albania as soon as possible. This should be crystal clear. It might happen in June, but it might also happen in September, but it is important that this process leads to opening the accession talks,” Juncker said.
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