European Parliament Envoy Says EU Must Start Accession Talks with Albania

MEP Knut Fleckenstein during today's press conference in Tirana
MEP Knut Fleckenstein during today's press conference in Tirana

Tirana, Apr 06 (Tirana Echo) – The European Parliament’s rapporteur on Albania Knut Fleckenstein has said he expects the Commission to recommend the start of accession talks for membership for the small Balkan country.

The German MEP Fleckenstein who will soon present his report on Albania to the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee is currently in Tirana meeting with the country’s political and civil society representatives.

During a press conference in Tirana he said “not everything is done, but what we asked for accession talks has been done  or it is being done, and now it is necessary to start negotiations which is the best thing for now.

Fleckenstein echoes earlier comments of EU High Representative Federica Mogherini that “the integration process of Albania and of the entire Western Balkans into the European Union is not a favor we make, it is a matter of self-interest for the European Union itself.

Asked on the opposition’s protests over a new highway toll fee introduced by Edi Rama’s government, Fleckenstein said this was an internal matter and that protests are a norm of democracies, although violence is not condoned.

I would protest but would not clock the roads in my home town, as the people would nail me for that”, said a smiling European parliament envoy to Tirana.

 

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