European Parliament starts reviewing draft resolution on Albania

AFET European Parliament
Interparliamentary meeting with delegations from the Foreign Affairs Committees of the National Parliaments. Exchange of views with Johannes HAHN, European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations

Tirana, Albania (Tirana Echo) – The European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) has launched discussions on the motion for an EP Resolution on the 2016 European Commission Report on Albania submitted by the EP Rapporteur on Albania, MEP Knut Fleckenstein.

During the presentation of the report, Fleckenstein expressed criticism on the current delays in implementing the vetting of judges and prosecutors, and on the amendments to the Electoral Code.

He said that what they expected from Albania was the full implementation of the reform in the justice system and tangible results in the fight against organized crime.

The right wing members of the committee chaired by MEP Eduard Kukan insisted that the upcoming parliamentary elections should serve as a test for Albanian authorities in terms of launching the accession negotiations. They also expressed concern about the increasing number of Albanian asylum-seekers in Western European countries.

MEP Charles Tannock expressed his concern about Albanian jihadists, adding that measures should be taken to punish their criminal acts once they return to their homeland. Greek MEP accused Albania of having territorial claims on Greece and of destroying the Orthodox churches of the Greek minority in Albania.

Newspapers report that the 231 amendments that precede the European Parliament resolution on Albania that is expected to be passed before the June parliamentary elections will be discussed Tuesday.

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