Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-09-06-Speech-3-040"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20060906.5.3-040"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:translated text |
".
Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement signed on 12 June was an important step on Albania’s path towards its future with the European Union. We are satisfied that Albania has made progress in its reforms so that the talks on the agreement, which had been going on for so long, could be brought to a conclusion. Together with the other mechanisms covered by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the pact will create a comprehensive framework for the further development of relations between the EU and Albania. The Interim Agreement, which was signed at the same time, is intended to enter into force from the start of November. It covers trade under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and related matters which will apply up until the Member States have ratified the Stabilisation and Association Agreement proper. It is important that we start to make effective use of the Interim Agreement once it has entered into force.
The Stabilisation and Association Agreement is of major importance for Albania’s future. It will enhance economic and political relations between the EU and Albania and make it easier for Albania to have closer ties with the European Union. Albania is the third country in the Western Balkans (after Macedonia and Croatia in the former Republic of Yugoslavia) with which the EU has signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
Signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the Interim Agreement does not mean that the work has ended. On the contrary, the real work is only really just beginning now.
We now expect Albania to demonstrate continued and effective progress in the implementation of the agreements. It must work hard to take forward the reforms necessary for closer ties with the EU. It is important that progress should be made in particular in such areas as freedom of the media, the return of property and compensation being paid, more efficient public administration and a respect for the principles of the rule of law. We will continually stress the importance for Albania, as for the other countries in the Western Balkans, of stepping up measures to prevent corruption and organised crime.
There may be local elections in Albania in six months’ time, and Albania should ensure that it can see them through in accordance with international norms.
For the reforms necessary for closer ties with the EU to be taken forward, all the political powers will need to pull together. The current political climate in Albania is worrying and is a serious threat to the progress of reform. We are urging the parties concerned to take part in constructive dialogue and we are pleased that some initial first results were achieved just last week.
Finally, I would like to remind everyone that at the European Council in June the European Union once again endorsed the EU perspective in respect of the countries in the Western Balkans. That means that Albania too has a future place in the Europe Union. We must nevertheless remember that each country’s progress towards EU accession stands or falls on its own merits in its attempts to meet EU requirements. The Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the Interim Agreement provide Albania with the best possible framework for its own attempts. The Union must of course continue to help, but most of the work still to do can only be done by Albania itself."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples