BETA


2015/2896(RSP) Resolution on the 2015 report on Albania

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFET FLECKENSTEIN Knut (icon: S&D S&D) KUKAN Eduard (icon: PPE PPE), TANNOCK Timothy Charles Ayrton (icon: ECR ECR), KYUCHYUK Ilhan (icon: ALDE ALDE), MESZERICS Tamás (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), CASTALDO Fabio Massimo (icon: EFDD EFDD), SCHAFFHAUSER Jean-Luc (icon: ENF ENF)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 132-p2

Events

2016/09/20
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2016/04/14
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2016/04/14
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted a resolution tabled by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the 2015 Progress Report on Albania.

It welcomed the steady progress made by Albania with respect to the reforms on the key priorities required for opening accession negotiations, and encouraged the government, the parliament and political parties to maintain the reform momentum . Members noted that sustained progress, especially in the areas of the rule of law, judicial reform, the fight against corruption and organised crime, public administration reform and fundamental rights, is of crucial importance in the reform process. Albania needs to intensify reform efforts in these areas and in other key priorities in order to open accession negotiations and consolidate its democratic transition.

Judiciary: Parliament called for more progress on a substantial reform of the judiciary . It recommended that the Commission closely monitor the progress made in the reform of the judiciary and encouraged it to report to Parliament and Council as soon as Albania has sufficiently advanced in this reform and to take into account Albania’s progress in the implementation of the five key priorities when considering recommending the opening of accession negotiations.

It noted that the current shortcomings in the functioning of the judicial system including its independence from other branches of power, political interference, selective justice and limited accountability, a high level of corruption, inefficient mechanisms of control, insufficient resources, the overall length of judicial proceedings and the lack of clear professional criteria for appointment and promotion of judges. Members want to see the implementation of stresses the relevant recommendations made by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) in its fourth-round evaluation report on corruption prevention in respect of judges and prosecutors.

Corruption: Parliament continued to be concerned about widespread corruption, particularly in education, healthcare, the judiciary, public procurement, public private partnership concessions, construction and spatial planning, local government and the public service. Whilst welcoming the adoption of the 2015-2020 national anti-corruption strategy it called on the competent authorities to improve the track record as regards investigation, prosecution and conviction in corruption cases at all levels, to enforce anti-corruption legislation strictly and to enhance the independence of and cooperation between anti-corruption institutions. Members strongly believed that progress in judicial reform would also substantially enhance the fight against corruption and organised crime.

Organised crime: whilst noting the government’s commitment to fighting organised crime, which has led to a number of successful large-scale law enforcement operations, Parliament remained concerned about the low number of final convictions. It stressed the need to further develop cooperation between prosecution services and the police and to ensure effective judicial follow-up, calling for adequate resources to be allocated to the police and prosecution services. Trafficking remains a significant problem for Albania, and competent authorities must strengthen their efforts in the fight against the production and trafficking of drugs and narcotics.

Public administration: Members welcomed the adoption of the 2015-2020 public administration reform strategy and its action plan for 2015-2017, as well as the 2014-2020 public financial management reform strategy. They noted the efforts towards more citizen-friendly public administration, and urged the government to pursue its efforts to enhance administrative capacities, depoliticise public administration, fight corruption in the civil service and improve recruitment procedures based on merit and performance.

Press and media: re-emphasising the critical importance of an independent and pluralist public service broadcaster and private media, Parliament was concerned about widespread self-censorship among journalists , who are sometimes physically obstructed from covering specific events, assaulted, or threatened because of their work, and about cases of direct interference in editorial autonomy.

Economic development: Members remained concerned about the high level of unemployment, especially youth and long-term unemployment, which is more than 50 % of total unemployment, and also expressed concerned about the regulatory environment, property rights enforcement and the fight against corruption which are hampering efforts to improve the business environment;.

Lastly, Members welcomed Albania’s commitment to the fight against radicalisation and terrorism and adoption of relevant security strategies and an action plan, but expressed concern that Albania, as well as other countries, is affected by the phenomenon of returning foreign fighters, Islamic radicalisation and violent extremism.

Documents
2016/04/14
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2016/04/13
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2016/04/06
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2016/02/26
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2015/10/08
   EP - FLECKENSTEIN Knut (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in AFET

Documents

Activities

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

events/0/docs
  • url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-8-2016-04-13-TOC_EN.html title: Debate in Parliament
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
associated
False
rapporteur
name: FLECKENSTEIN Knut date: 2015-10-08T00:00:00 group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
associated
False
rapporteur
name: FLECKENSTEIN Knut date: 2015-10-08T00:00:00 group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE576.893
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AFET-AM-576893_EN.html
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2016-0440_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2016-0440_EN.html
events/0/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20160413&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
events/2
date
2016-04-14T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2016-0134_EN.html title: T8-0134/2016
summary
events/2
date
2016-04-14T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2016-0134_EN.html title: T8-0134/2016
summary
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
associated
False
rapporteur
name: FLECKENSTEIN Knut date: 2015-10-08T00:00:00 group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
associated
False
date
2015-10-08T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: FLECKENSTEIN Knut group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2016-0440&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2016-0440_EN.html
docs/2/body
EC
events/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2016-0134
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2016-0134_EN.html
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
associated
False
date
2015-10-08T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: FLECKENSTEIN Knut group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
associated
False
date
2015-10-08T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: FLECKENSTEIN Knut group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
activities
  • date: 2016-04-13T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20160413&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2016-04-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2016-0134 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0134/2016 body: EP type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
commission
  • body: EC dg: Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations commissioner: HAHN Johannes
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
associated
False
date
2015-10-08T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: FLECKENSTEIN Knut group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
committees/0
body
EP
shadows
responsible
True
committee
AFET
date
2015-10-08T00:00:00
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
rapporteur
group: S&D name: FLECKENSTEIN Knut
docs
  • date: 2016-02-26T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE576.893 title: PE576.893 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2016-04-06T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B8-2016-0440&language=EN title: B8-0440/2016 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
  • date: 2016-09-20T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=27098&j=0&l=en title: SP(2016)484 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2016-04-13T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20160413&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2016-04-14T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=27098&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2016-04-14T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2016-0134 title: T8-0134/2016 summary: The European Parliament adopted a resolution tabled by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the 2015 Progress Report on Albania. It welcomed the steady progress made by Albania with respect to the reforms on the key priorities required for opening accession negotiations, and encouraged the government, the parliament and political parties to maintain the reform momentum . Members noted that sustained progress, especially in the areas of the rule of law, judicial reform, the fight against corruption and organised crime, public administration reform and fundamental rights, is of crucial importance in the reform process. Albania needs to intensify reform efforts in these areas and in other key priorities in order to open accession negotiations and consolidate its democratic transition. Judiciary: Parliament called for more progress on a substantial reform of the judiciary . It recommended that the Commission closely monitor the progress made in the reform of the judiciary and encouraged it to report to Parliament and Council as soon as Albania has sufficiently advanced in this reform and to take into account Albania’s progress in the implementation of the five key priorities when considering recommending the opening of accession negotiations. It noted that the current shortcomings in the functioning of the judicial system including its independence from other branches of power, political interference, selective justice and limited accountability, a high level of corruption, inefficient mechanisms of control, insufficient resources, the overall length of judicial proceedings and the lack of clear professional criteria for appointment and promotion of judges. Members want to see the implementation of stresses the relevant recommendations made by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) in its fourth-round evaluation report on corruption prevention in respect of judges and prosecutors. Corruption: Parliament continued to be concerned about widespread corruption, particularly in education, healthcare, the judiciary, public procurement, public private partnership concessions, construction and spatial planning, local government and the public service. Whilst welcoming the adoption of the 2015-2020 national anti-corruption strategy it called on the competent authorities to improve the track record as regards investigation, prosecution and conviction in corruption cases at all levels, to enforce anti-corruption legislation strictly and to enhance the independence of and cooperation between anti-corruption institutions. Members strongly believed that progress in judicial reform would also substantially enhance the fight against corruption and organised crime. Organised crime: whilst noting the government’s commitment to fighting organised crime, which has led to a number of successful large-scale law enforcement operations, Parliament remained concerned about the low number of final convictions. It stressed the need to further develop cooperation between prosecution services and the police and to ensure effective judicial follow-up, calling for adequate resources to be allocated to the police and prosecution services. Trafficking remains a significant problem for Albania, and competent authorities must strengthen their efforts in the fight against the production and trafficking of drugs and narcotics. Public administration: Members welcomed the adoption of the 2015-2020 public administration reform strategy and its action plan for 2015-2017, as well as the 2014-2020 public financial management reform strategy. They noted the efforts towards more citizen-friendly public administration, and urged the government to pursue its efforts to enhance administrative capacities, depoliticise public administration, fight corruption in the civil service and improve recruitment procedures based on merit and performance. Press and media: re-emphasising the critical importance of an independent and pluralist public service broadcaster and private media, Parliament was concerned about widespread self-censorship among journalists , who are sometimes physically obstructed from covering specific events, assaulted, or threatened because of their work, and about cases of direct interference in editorial autonomy. Economic development: Members remained concerned about the high level of unemployment, especially youth and long-term unemployment, which is more than 50 % of total unemployment, and also expressed concerned about the regulatory environment, property rights enforcement and the fight against corruption which are hampering efforts to improve the business environment;. Lastly, Members welcomed Albania’s commitment to the fight against radicalisation and terrorism and adoption of relevant security strategies and an action plan, but expressed concern that Albania, as well as other countries, is affected by the phenomenon of returning foreign fighters, Islamic radicalisation and violent extremism.
  • date: 2016-04-14T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/ title: Enlargement commissioner: HAHN Johannes
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
Old
AFET/8/04681
New
  • AFET/8/04681
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 132-p2
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 123-p2
procedure/subject
Old
  • 8.20.01 Candidate countries
New
8.20.01
Candidate countries
procedure/subtype
Old
Resolution on statements
New
Resolution on statement
activities/0/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20160413&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament
activities/1/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2016-0134 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0134/2016
activities/1/type
Old
Vote in plenary scheduled
New
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
New
Procedure completed
procedure/title
Old
2015 report on Albania
New
Resolution on the 2015 report on Albania
activities/0/type
Old
Debate in plenary scheduled
New
Debate in Parliament
activities/1
date
2016-04-14T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Vote in plenary scheduled
activities
  • date: 2016-04-13T00:00:00 body: EP type: Debate in plenary scheduled
committees
  • body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: KUKAN Eduard group: ECR name: TANNOCK Charles group: ALDE name: KYUCHYUK Ilhan group: GUE/NGL name: HADJIGEORGIOU Takis group: Verts/ALE name: MESZERICS Tamás group: EFD name: CASTALDO Fabio Massimo group: ENF name: SCHAFFHAUSER Jean-Luc responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2015-10-08T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: S&D name: FLECKENSTEIN Knut
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/ title: Enlargement commissioner: HAHN Johannes
procedure
dossier_of_the_committee
AFET/8/04681
geographical_area
Albania
reference
2015/2896(RSP)
title
2015 report on Albania
legal_basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 123-p2
stage_reached
Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
subtype
Resolution on statements
type
RSP - Resolutions on topical subjects
subject
8.20.01 Candidate countries