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EP calls on Albania to step up pace of judicial reform

Xinhua, February 16, 2017 Adjust font size:

Albania should step up the pace of judicial reform as a key to starting EU accession negotiations, local media cited European Parliament members as saying on Wednesday.

European Parliament adopted Wednesday by 546 votes to 85, with 62 abstentions, a resolution on Albania drafted by member of European Parliament (MEP) Knut Fleckenstein.

In the resolution, it was clearly highlighted that credible implementation of justice reform, good progress in fighting organized crime, corruption and holding free and fair elections in June 2017 could prove to be a key to advancing the EU accession process and starting negotiations, media reported.

Fleckenstein said in his speech that Albania has been making constant progress since summer 2014 after becoming an EU accession candidate.

MEPs welcomed Albania's progress on EU-related reforms and further efforts to reform the judicial sector such as the vetting and decriminalization law aimed at excluding criminal offenders from public office.

However, they expressed concerns about selective justice, corruption, the overall length of judicial proceedings and political interference in investigations and court cases in Albania, according to media reports.

On the other hand, MEPs also called on Albanian politicians to make efforts and address the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations before the upcoming elections.

The approval of the resolution was commended by Albanian authorities who reaffirmed that Albania is on the right track of reforms.

Albanian integration minister Klajda Gjosha said in a press statement that Albania remained committed to its top priority which is EU integration. Endit