TIRANA, January 27/ATA/ Rapporteur for Albania in the European Parliament Isabel Santos was present at the meeting of the National Council for European Integration.
Santos said that the opening of Albania’s EU membership negotiations was a very important moment for the country.
She emphasized that it is high time that the reforms should not stop, but get accelerated.
“The time has come to accelerate reforms and the reform process. Not to stop them, but to accelerate them up so that Albania becomes a leader in this process. I am very sure that Albania has the conditions to be in the vanguard in this process”, she said.
“There is a need to have a strategic vision for the path to be followed and a concrete plan for the steps to be taken. The role of the Assembly in the coming period will be very important”, said Santos.
“I see all the steps you have taken to fully involve the Assembly in this process. Now, that you are moving forward, I believe that you can take a real step forward for the new legislation, which will be drawn up in accordance with the European one”, said Santos.
She said that, in recent years, Albania has taken difficult reforms and strong political decisions.
“The reform of the justice system is an example. This is a necessary reform which will strengthen Albania’s progress in the field of the rule of law. The judicial system in Albania is on the right track to become healthier”, she emphasized.
Santos said that European integration should be a deep social process that includes not only the majority, but the opposition, civil society and all citizens of Albania.
Only through being united, Santos said, can the integration process be successful.
“I am particularly happy that I am coming here to the National Council for European Integration. This format shows that the European integration is not only the government, the ruling majority, and it is not only the technocratic process in itself, but it should be a deep social process that includes the civil society and all the citizens of Albania. It should be a transparent and all-embracing process. Only when the whole of Albania gets united, then the integration process will be successful”, said Santos./gj.m/p.s./
