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Implementing vetting law barrier to opening EU accession talks: Albanian gov't

Xinhua, November 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

The sooner the Albanian government implements the vetting law, the sooner accession negotiations with the European Union will start, Albanian Minister of Integration Klajda Gjosha told reporters Tuesday.

The statement comes a day after the visit of the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to Germany where he met German Chancellor Angela Merkel and discussed Albania's progress towards EU integration.

Gjosha said Rama's visit to Berlin was testimony to the clear support of Merkel to Albania's EU drive.

The minister stressed that free and fair elections are the criteria for any country. Since they are so crucial, electoral reform should be finalized on time in the spirit of constructiveness and dialogue, he added.

The Albanian parliament approved the vetting law or the law on temporary re-evaluation of the judges and prosecutors of Albania with a qualified majority of votes in an extraordinary plenary session in August 2016.

By implementing this law, an evaluation process will begin for judges and prosecutors, members of courts, legal advisors and assistants in all levels.

Currently there is a deadlock in implementation of the law since Albanian opposition is accusing the government of not considering its amendments to the law. Endit