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April 20, 2018 www.intellinews.com I Page 3
Albania, but to all the Western Balkans countries.
“These reforms are not for Brussels – effective judiciary, effective fight against corruption and organised crime, efficient public administration, stronger economy – all this will directly benefit the region and its citizens, and Europe as a whole," Hahn said.
Macedonia has been an EU candidate country since 2005 and so far has obtained a recommendation each year since 2009 to start negotiations, but these were conditional on Skopje’s solving its long-standing dispute with Greece and making other reforms. Now the two countries appear to
be close to a breakthrough in resolving the “name dispute” — Athens objects to the use of the name “Macedonia” as there is a Greek province with the same name.
Macedonia was praised for steps taken with regard to regional cooperation, specifically in improving good neighbourly relations, including through
the entry into force of a new bilateral treaty with Bulgaria.
In terms of political criteria, the report said that Macedonia finally overcome its most severe political crisis since 2001 and it is undergoing fundamental changes in a more inclusive and open political atmosphere. “The new reform- oriented government has taken steps to address state capture by gradually restoring checks and balances, strengthening democracy and rule of law,” the statement said.
Concerning the judicial system, the backsliding of previous years has started to be reversed through decisive steps taken in recent months, notably to start restoring the independence of the judiciary, the EC said.
The Macedonian authorities were very pleased that the country had received what they called a “clear” recommendation to start long-awaited EU talks.
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said that this means
that Macedonia is on the right path. “April 17 is a great day for Macedonia,” Zaev said. He underlined that Macedonia is focused on reforms and quickly solving the name dispute with Greece.
Progress was also noted in Albania, a candidate country since June 2014, and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said, “Albania has just opened a new chapter in its history as a state.
“The next station at the end of this new road is membership in the EU and the speed of this arrival depends first and foremost on us,” Rama said in the government statement.
However, the European Commission specified that progress in the key field of the rule of law will be crucial, as will the fight against corruption and organised crime. Recent progress includes the adoption of amendments to the criminal procedure code, and in fighting against cannabis cultivation. Tirana launched a large-scale campaign against cannabis cultivation at Europe’s so-called marijuana mountain at Lazarat, and Rama claimed at the end of last year that large scale cannabis plantations have been almost eradicated.
“Albania needs to build on operational results
in this area, intensifying confiscation of assets belonging to criminal gangs and pursuing the destruction of all existing cannabis stockpiles,” the report said.
Concerns were also expressed over the strong polarisation in the political system. The report pointed to the opposition boycott of the parliament in early 2017. The situation has taken a turn for the worse recently, with the main opposition parties embarking on a campaign of civil disobedience over the arrests of 11 people involved in riots over the country’s first road toll system.
Far to go
While there was good news for Albania and Macedonia, the reports on Serbia and Montenegro highlighted the large amount of work the two frontrunners need to complete before they can be