REPORT on the Commission report to the Council on the work of the EU/Albania High Level Steering Group, in preparation for the negotiation of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania
(COM(2001)300 – C5‑0654/2001 – 2001/2277(COS))

17 April 2002

Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy
Rapporteur: Doris Pack

PROCEDURAL PAGE

By letter of 7 June 2001, the Commission forwarded to Parliament its report to the Council on the work of the EU/Albania High Level Steering Group, in preparation for the negotiation of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania (COM(2001)300 – 2001/2277(COS)).

At the sitting of 13 December 2001 the President of Parliament announced that he had referred the report to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy as the committee responsible and the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport for its opinion and to all the other committees concerned (C5‑0654/2001).

The Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy had appointed Doris Pack rapporteur at its meeting of 12 September 2001.

It considered the draft report at its meeting of 25 March and 15/16 April 2002.

At the latter meeting it adopted the motion for a resolution unanimously.

The following were present for the vote: Geoffrey Van Orden, acting chairman; Christos Zacharakis, vice-chairman; Doris Pack, rapporteur; Ole Andreasen, Alexandros Baltas, André Brie, John Walls Cushnahan, Joseph Daul (for Hugues Martin), Pere Esteve, Glyn Ford, Janelly Fourtou (for Franco Marini, pursuant to Rule 153(2)), Michael Gahler, Per Gahrton, Gerardo Galeote Quecedo, Jas Gawronski, Vitaliano Gemelli (for Gunilla Carlsson), Alfred Gomolka, Vasco Graça Moura (for Armin Laschet), Joost Lagendijk, Alain Lamassoure, Jules Maaten (for Bob van den Bos), Nelly Maes (for Reinhold Messner), Cecilia Malmström, Emilio Menéndez del Valle, Raimon Obiols i Germà, Jacques F. Poos, Lennart Sacrédeus (for Karl von Wogau), Jannis Sakellariou, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Jacques Santer, Amalia Sartori, Elisabeth Schroedter, Ioannis Souladakis, The Earl of Stockton (for David Sumberg), Ilkka Suominen, Hannes Swoboda, Charles Tannock, Maj Britt Theorin (for Magdalene Hoff), Demetrio Volcic, Jan Marinus Wiersma, and Matti Wuori.

The opinion of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport is attached.

The report was tabled on 17 April 2002.

The deadline for tabling amendments will be indicated in the draft agenda for the relevant part-session.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

European Parliament resolution on the Commission report to the Council On the work of the EU/Albania High Level Steering Group, in preparation for the negotiation of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania (COM(2001)300 – C5‑0654/2001 – 2001/2277(COS))

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission report to the Council on the work of the EU/Albania High Level Steering Group, in preparation for the negotiation of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania (COM(2001)300 – C5‑0654/2001),

-   having regard to the Commission recommendation on the Council decision authorising the Commission to negotiate a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania (15070/01 RESTRICTED),

–   having regard to Rule 47(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy and the opinion of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport (A5‑0118/2002),

A.   whereas the Council, meeting on 28 January 2002, highlighted the Union’s wish to embark as soon as possible on negotiations with a view to concluding a stabilisation and association agreement with Albania; whereas it acknowledged the efforts seeking to make progress to that end, but noted nevertheless that attention had been distracted from the reforms which were an essential prerequisite to the beginning of negotiations; noting that the Council also supported the approach of Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy and urged all political groups in Albania to make common cause to speed up the implementation of these reforms,

B.   having regard to the importance for Albania of stepping up the reforms it has begun, with a view to creating a strong state based on the rule of law and practices of good governance, operating within a market economy system; whereas the political instability due to the opposition parties’ recent obstruction of the national parliament’s activities, and the instability within the majority party in government, could be reduced if a broad consensus were to be found on the presidential candidate,

C.   whereas the opening of negotiations with Albania could place relations between the European Union and Albania on a new contractual footing, with a view to bringing it closer to the European Union,

D.   whereas the opening of negotiations could strengthen the democratic process, consolidate democratic institutions and contribute to the stability of the country which is of the utmost importance for the whole region,

1.   Calls on the Albanians and their political parties to seek continued dialogue and stability which will make it possible to restore mutual confidence between the political groupings, strengthening the legitimacy and credibility of the institutions, which are priority objectives in view of the irregularities which marred the last general elections; notes in this connection the role which could be played by electing the President in an atmosphere of consensus;

2.   Stresses that respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights inspire the domestic and external policies of the Community and will constitute an essential element of a future stabilisation and association agreement with Albania; underlines therefore that the stability of government is also one of the essential elements for the credibility of Albania as a valid partner in a negotiation process which looks likely to be very sensitive;

3.   Notes the efforts made by the Albanian authorities to meet the conditions enabling negotiations to be opened towards a stabilisation and association agreement, in particular the participation of the opposition in parliamentary activities, the formation of a bi-partisan committee to consider potential ways of dealing with the irregularities of the 2001 elections, the adoption of the ‘Action plan for the negotiating period of towards stabilisation and association agreement’ and the adoption of the ‘National strategy to combat the illegal traffic in human beings’;

4.   Urges the Albanian authorities to speed up, as soon as possible, their efforts aimed at vital reforms in order to permit the opening of negotiations during 2002; considers that these negotiations cannot be opened until the following conditions are fulfilled:

• -beginning of work by the Bipartisan committee recently set up to consider the irregularities detected during the summer 2001 general elections in order to guide the country towards fair, just and democratic elections in future;
• -taking of real initiatives aimed at redrafting electoral law along the lines recommended by the OSCE/ODIHR and steps to ensure full implementation of the new electoral law in subsequent elections;
• -preparation of the presidential elections in compliance with democratic principles, and with the agreement of the political forces, on putting forward candidates as a pledge of the political stability needed in order to negotiate and enforce the negotiation and application of the agreement,

5.   Believes that a high-profile and super-partes consensus president could act better as guarantor of the functioning of the fragile Albanian democratic institutions; recommends therefore an agreement between the political forces on electing a consensus president as a pledge of the political stability needed in order to negotiate and enforce the negotiation and application of the agreement;

6.   Recalls that there are still obstacles to the application of a stabilisation and association agreement, in particular:

• -dysfunctions in the judicial system, including interference from outside, corruption within, and inability to enforce judgments;
• -widespread corruption and weakness of the structures created to combat it, which are not yet operational;
• -lack of any effective measures to fight organised crime, which results in Albania being a transit area and centre for trafficking in arms, and for drugs production and trafficking and for trafficking in human beings, particularly women;
• -the weakness of the economy, including a growing grey economy which competes unfairly with officially registered businesses and discourages national and foreign investment;
• -a very low level of administrative capacity, resulting from the lack of a public service culture independent of politics, and hence a very poor capacity to implement laws, including those deriving from any stabilisation and association agreement;

7.   Notes with concern the major difficulties currently being faced by the Albanian economy, especially in the energy sector, which threaten the stability of the country and proposes closer cooperation between the European Union and the World Bank to consider the best way of providing financial assistance to Albanian in this area;

8.   Recalls that the capacity to implement and apply reforms and programme measures or to make allocations is as least as important as their adoption;

9.   Considers, therefore, that the Negotiating Directives to be given to the Commission should, in accordance with the principles set out in the context of the Stabilisation and Association process, be such as to permit the Commission to ensure that Albania has and will continue to have sufficient capacity to implement the undertakings resulting from such an agreement when the time comes;

10.   Considers that the negotiating guidelines should also seek to obtain assurances or, if necessary, conclude agreements, on:

• -respect for democracy, the rule of law and democratic institutions in pluralism;
• -respect for human rights and minorities;
• -a commitment by Albania to information and awareness-raising campaigns on human rights, particularly aimed at those responsible for applying the law (judges, public prosecutors and other law enforcement authorities);
• -development of positive measures to help minorities, particularly regarding their access to education and training;
• -implementation of constitutional provisions on the creation of a housing and land market (land register), and measures to help the restitution of property;
• -acceptance by Albania of a transition period, in compliance with the rules of the provisions of the World Trade Organisation;
• -acceptance by Albania of the conclusion of agreements on the re-admission of its citizens;
• -Albania’s commitment to free and democratic media, including the promotion of training and the adoption of a code of conduct, fixing the ethical rules governing the activities of those in the information professions;
• -its commitment to improving school attendance by children and young people;
• -its commitment to regional cooperation by concluding regional agreements, including free trade agreements; notes in this context that Albania has initialled, with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, its first free trade agreement in the region;
• - its commitment to strengthening public order, the pursuit of tax reform, the management of public expenditure and the financial sector, and the pursuit of the privatisation process (banking and energy sectors in particular) and land reform;

11.   Attaches great importance to making CARDS democracy programmes more effective with a view to developing a strong civil society and supporting and facilitating NGOs’ activities;

12.   Stresses the very positive role played by Albania in the stabilisation of the region, particularly during the crisis in Kosovo and in the FYROM;

11.   Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the government and parliament of the Republic of Albania.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

BACKGROUND

1.   Last June the Commission, while acknowledging that Albania was not yet in the position to meet the obligations of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), nevertheless considered that the perspective of opening negotiations on such an agreement would be the best way of helping the momentum created by recent political and economic reform, and thus of encouraging Albania to continue that course.

2.   In its report[1] the Commission highlights the progress made over the last three years, and identifies the following as the main obstacles to a Stabilisation and Association Agreement:

• -difficulties with the functioning of the judicial system: the judicial system continues to function inadequately (in terms of equipment and human resources), with judges who are ill prepared to apply new legislation. The report points to interference with the judicial system and its corruption, together with failure to enforce judgments;
• -widespread corruption: despite the creation of several enforcement structures, the means for implementing the changes made do not yet exist, since there are not enough people engaged in fighting crime and corruption. The structures recently set up to combat corruption are not yet operational;
• -organised crime: according to the Commission Albania is both a source of, and a transit centre for, trafficking in human beings, especially women. No agreement can be contemplated until Albania demonstrates, by its determined approach, its genuine commitment to combating this problem. According to the Commission's report, illegal immigration and the drugs and arms trade are also serious matters calling for close attention by the Union. The introduction of more effective border management and control is a matter of priority;
• -the economic sector: despite significant progress in the process of economic stabilisation, there are still major structural weaknesses. The size of the grey economy threatens the viability of officially registered businesses and constitutes unfair competition, which discourages investment. The Commission also stresses the need for urgent support for infrastructure in the energy sector, and highlights the link between the emigration brain drain and remittances from abroad;
• -lack of capacity to implement legislation (lack of administrative capacity): lack of a culture of public service independent of the political sector; very limited capacity to implement legislation, including that which would arise from a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). The capacity to create a legal framework which is now emerging is not yet underpinned by the capacity to administer it.

3.   On 16 June 2001 the Göteborg European Council upheld the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 11 June 2001, which had given a positive welcome to the Commission report referred to above. It asked the latter to draw up draft negotiating directives, if possible before the end of the year.

4.   The Commission presented its proposed negotiating mandate (negotiating directives) at the end of November; this is currently being examined by the Council. The Council, at its meeting of 10 December 2001, envisaged the possibility of opening negotiations in the first half of 2002. The Council meeting of 28 January 2002, while confirming the European Union’s interest in launching negotiations as soon as possible, noted that the initial efforts to achieve the vital reforms which would enable negotiations to be opened had stalled;

5.   At the beginning of March the “Task Force” on Albania (representatives of the Commission and Council) met in Tirana with representatives of the new government to consider the political situation and highlight the importance for Albania of sending clear signals of stability and commitment to the reforms which are clearly needed before the opening of negotiations. A meeting of the Troika with the Albanian government is planned for 12 March to stress the urgency of resuming the implementation of reforms;

EFFECT OF POLITICAL INSTABILITY ON THE TIMETABLE

6.   Negotiations within the Council on the terms of the mandate to be given to the Commission for negotiating a Stabilisation and Association Agreement normally take at least three to four months (end of April or May), which gives the prospect of negotiations commencing at the end of May or June 2002. However, it must be borne in mind that the persistent political instability and the failure to implement what are regarded as urgent reforms mean that the cautious stance initially adopted by France, the United Kingdom and Sweden has now been also been taken up by Denmark, Portugal and Germany.

7.   Some delegations in the Council might also consider that the opening of negotiations should await the outcome of the presidential election scheduled for 22 June (one of the main causes of instability in recent months).

8.   The current political instability is also due to irregularities detected in the last general elections. The OSCE/ODIHR final report, dated 11 October 2001, recommended that these irregularities be investigated, and possibilities for reforming the national legal system considered, by a parliamentary committee of inquiry; if necessary, the European Court of Human Rights should be involved.

9.   In view of the forthcoming presidential election, the European Parliament called on the political parties to seek for a consensus enabling mutual trust to be restored between political forces and enabling the legitimacy of institutions to be strengthened in the eyes of the Albanian people. All the political forces represented in the Albanian Parliament were also called on to work together constructively, in particular to improve the electoral law and to find a consensus candidate for the presidency. The opposition was also called upon to help strengthen parliamentary democratic pluralism and to play its full part in the political life of the country.

10.   These suggestions were made partly in the course of meetings between the delegations of the European Parliament and the Albanian parliament, partly in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy, particularly at the exchange of views held on 24 January 2002 with the chairmen of the political parties represented in the Albanian parliament, and partly by your rapporteur.

11.   Your rapporteur has also asked, in a letter to the Commission, the Council and the High Representative for the CFSP, that the EU should act more firmly and should not open negotiations on the stabilisation and association agreement until concrete signals are given by the Albanian authorities of a political commitment to establishing the conditions for stability. Attention has also been drawn to the constitution of the parliamentary committee of inquiry on electoral irregularities, improving the electoral law and electing the President in an atmosphere of consensus.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES GOVERNING NEGOTIATIONS

Capacity to implement the agreement

12.   Despite the recent significant improvements and the efforts to ensure political and economic stabilisation, the weaknesses which are still evident (inadequate judicial authority and administrative capacity, and lack of human and financial resources) are likely to affect Albania's capacity to meet the obligations which usually arise from a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

13.   The Commission should therefore have the opportunity, during the negotiating process, to ascertain that Albania has the requisite capacity to implement, in due course, the commitments which would arise from the negotiations. This is intended to forestall a situation in which the two parties (European Union and Albania) reach formal agreement on the terms of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, but without credible proof or guarantees being provided as to Albania's capacity to comply with the terms of the agreement.

14.   Such a possibility is demonstrably necessary, bearing in mind the difficulties which have recently arisen with the provisional implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

15.   The negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement must not be concluded until Albania has implemented the measures needed to apply the agreement, or until it is credible that it will do so in good time. The negotiating directives that the Council will give the Commission must be clear on this point.

Conditions for opening negotiations and concluding the agreement

16.   The opposition parties have renewed their participation in parliamentary activities. The bi-partisan committee for investigating the electoral irregularities in 2001 has been set up, and must begin work as a matter of urgency. It is also necessary:

• -for assurances to be given on governmental stability. The new government (whose programme was adopted by the parliament on 22 February by 81 votes to 42) cannot demand the opening of negotiations without giving credible assurances as to its stability and its capacity as a valid negotiating partner;
• -for clarifications to be given on the other recommendations of the OSCE/OHDIR report, in particular:
• *simplifying the electoral law and improving the transparency of its implementation, including doing away with the current fragmentation of the electoral process (moving to a system with only one round instead of the present five);
• *improving electoral administration systems and legislation on the use of the media;
• *encouraging the participation of women in politics, including in the electoral process;

17.   The negotiating directives should also require Albania, before the conclusion of negotiations, to give assurances regarding its:

• -respect for democracy, the rule of law and democratic institutions in pluralism;
• -commitment to information and awareness-raising campaigns on human rights, particularly aimed at those responsible for applying the law (judges, public prosecutors and other law enforcement authorities);
• -commitment to the creation of a housing and land market (land register); this presupposes, as provided by the Commission, the adoption and implementation of legislation on land ownership and the restitution of property;
• -acceptance of a transition period, complying with the rules of the World Trade Organisation;
• -acceptance of mechanisms for assessing its capacity to implement the measures agreed to during negotiations (particularly as regards the court system and enforcement of the law); this is to avoid a situation after the conclusion of the stabilisation and association agreement whereby the European Union has to raise severe criticisms in the Stabilisation and Association Council of the difficulties encountered in its application;
• -acceptance of the conclusion of agreements on the re-admission of its citizens;
• -commitment to free and democratic media, including the adoption of a code of conduct fixing the ethical rules governing the activities of those in the information professions;
• -commitment to improving school attendance by children and young people;
• -commitment to regional cooperation by concluding regional agreements, including free trade agreements;
• -commitment to enhancing public order, the pursuit of tax reform, the management of public expenditure and the financial sector, and the pursuit of the privatisation process (banking and energy sectors in particular) and land reform;
• -contribution to a rapprochement with the European Union on political dialogue, in line with the cooperation already embarked upon during the recent tensions in Kosovo, the FYROM, Serbia and Montenegro.

18.   Some of the headway made on economic stabilisation may be lost if no clear measures are implemented as a matter of urgency, particularly in the field of energy;

19.   The World Bank has also advised that priority be given to the payment of electricity bills, and the implementation of a price liberalisation policy, which has already been accepted by the former government. The strengthening of cooperation between the EU institutions and the World Bank could be a measure to be considered with a view to resolving the current situation.

• [1] COM(2001) 300 final, 6.6.2001

ANNEX

MAJOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INDICATORS

	1990	1998	1999(a)	2000 (a)	2001 (b)	2002 (b)
% of population with working age Total population: 3.42 m	na	na	na	64.   7%	na	na
Education: % enrolment (6-18 age cohort)	93%	na	na	80%	na	na
Unemployment rate	na	17.   8%	18%	na	na	na
Growth in GDP	na	8%	7.   3%	7.   5%	7.   27%	7.   0%
Consumer price inflation	na	20.   7%	0.   4%	0.   0%	1.   7%	4.   0%
Exports (FOB, $ million)	na	208.   0	275	268.   3	325	357
Imports (FOB, $ million)	na	811.   7	938	1083	1140	1225
Trade deficit (% GDP)	na	-   2.1	-   4.2	-   4(c)	-   3.5	-   3.6

(a)   actual, (b) forecasts, (c) estimate.

Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit, Country Report Albania, April 2001 Main Report (EP, DG IV).

OPINION OF THE OF THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE, YOUTH, EDUCATION, THE MEDIA AND SPORT

23 January 2002

for the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy

on the Commission report on the work of the EU/Albania High-Level Steering Group, in preparation for the negotiation of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania

(COM(2001) 300 – C5‑0654/2001 – 2001/2277(COS))

Draftsman: Alexandros Alavanos

PROCEDURE

The Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport appointed Alexandros Alavanos draftsman at its meeting of 15 October 2001.

It considered the draft opinion at its meetings of 7 and 8 January 2002 and 22 January 2002.

At the latter meeting it adopted the following conclusions unanimously.

The following were present for the vote: Michel Rocard, chairman; Vasco Graça Moura, vice‑chairman; Mario Mauro, vice-chairman; Alexandros Alavanos, draftsman; Pedro Aparicio Sánchez, Christopher J.P. Beazley, Rolf Berend (for Ruth Hieronymi), Janelly Fourtou (for Marielle de Sarnez), Lissy Gröner, Ulpu Iivari, Lucio Manisco, Maria Martens, Pietro-Paolo Mennea, Domenico Mennitti, Antonio Mussa, Juan Ojeda Sanz, Barbara O'Toole, Doris Pack, Roy Perry, Feleknas Uca, Luckas Vander Taelen, Eurig Wyn, Sabine Zissener and Myrsini Zorba (for Giorgio Ruffolo).

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

The Commission’s recommendations

In its report on Albania’s ability to assure the obligations resulting from a stabilisation and association agreement with the EU, the Commission notes that ‘Albania’s European perspective should be made more concrete’ and that Albania has made substantial efforts over the last few years which have resulted in significant progress. However, in almost all areas Albania lacks the ability at present to assure the obligations it would take on as part of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Having considered these matters, the Commission formulates the somewhat vague recommendation ‘to proceed with’ a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania and declares its intention ‘in due course’ to submit a recommendation for a Council decision to open negotiations which ‘can, of course, only be concluded when all appropriate conditions have been met’.

One matter covered by the report which falls within the remit of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport is minority rights and the protection of minorities. The Commission takes the view that in Albania fundamental minority rights are respected. However, it insists that the exercise of minority rights should no longer be limited to ‘minority zones’, the legal framework should be completed, precise statistics on the size of minorities gathered and the Roma community supported in improving its socio-economic position.

Cooperation in the field of culture and the audiovisual media is a potential priority of future cooperation between the EU and Albania. However, Albania still has much to do in the field of audiovisual media, since it has to bring its policy and legislation in line with the EU acquis (Council of Europe Convention on trans-frontier television, the ‘Television without Frontiers’ Directive) and to take steps to promote the European audiovisual industry.

Cooperation already exists between the EU and Albania in the field of education and training (5^th RTD programme, the TEMPUS Programme, the European Training Foundation), which could be further developed within the framework of an agreement. Albania faces a number of major challenges in this area, since the low level of education in Albania has sunk even further since the beginning of the process of political and economic transition, education infrastructures and school equipment are inadequate and an increasing number of pupils drop out of school.

The outlook for cooperation with Albania

Any country wishing in future to become a member of the European Union must respect the principles of democracy and human rights: a tolerant society must develop in which everyone can speak his or her own language, retain his or her cultural identity and practice his or her religion. Respecting the rights of cultural and linguistic minorities and effectively protecting these minorities are essential components of a strategy to protect human rights. Albania has two recognised minorities (Greek and Slav-Macedonia) and three ‘cultural minorities’ (Montenegrin, Vlach and Roma) which are still in a difficult situation. The Commission should therefore help Albania improve the socio-economic position of minorities and take urgent action to improve the level of education and training among these minorities.

Over the past ten years large numbers of people have emigrated from Albania. It is not only members of minorities that are emigrating but also many young people and people with a high level of education who see no future for themselves in Albania and leave for other countries. According to the Emigration Bureau of the Albania Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs[1] over the last ten years 67% of educated Albanians have emigrated. Some 60% of full-time university professors are thought to have left the country over the last decade. Future cooperation with Albania must therefore address the problems of young people as a matter of priority to offer them renewed prospects of a future in their own country.

The situation in the field of education and training is also alarming. Although Albania still traditionally has a high literacy rate, the situation in the primary school sector is now catastrophic and the number of pupils dropping out of school has significantly risen. The massive scale of emigration is bound to have an adverse effect on higher education, and cooperation should therefore be extended in this field too.

CONCLUSIONS

The Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport calls on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following points in its motion for a resolution:

1.   Emphasises that it is fundamentally important for the process of Association and Stabilisation that the principles of democracy and human rights, including the rights of the Greek, the Slav-Macedonian and cultural minorities, should be respected, and is pleased that in two years time the government will collect statistical data about the minorities that live in their country;

2.   Calls on the Commission to support measures to establish an institutional and legal framework to improve the socio-economic position of the population and to make a special effort to offer it adequate educational and training opportunities, in particular for the minorities;

3.   Calls on the Commission to support specific measures on education and professional training for journalists and to teach them notably a sense of ethic and civic responsibilities;

4.   Considers that cultural cooperation is an area which can make a practical contribution towards fostering closer ties between Albania and the European Union; calls on the Commission to incorporate a commitment by the contracting parties to promote cultural cooperation in future negotiations on an SAA, and desires an intensification of cooperation in this sphere at both EU and Member State levels even before the conclusion of such an agreement; stresses the importance of the European Union's contribution to preserving and promoting the archaeological heritage (Illyrian, Ancient Greek, Roman and Ottoman) in Albania;

5.   Considers that the cooperation between the EU and Albania in the field of education and training should be reinforced and could be further developed within the framework of an agreement;

6.   Is particularly alarmed at the fact that many young and well educated people, including a large proportion of university professors, have left the country over the last few years; takes the view that it is essential to help Albania build a functioning primary school education system which is open to all sectors of the population and also to step up cooperation in the field of higher education so as to attract students especially those who are children of immigrant families and have studied in other European countries and to offer qualified researchers and professors, prospects of pursuing their activities in their own country;

7.   Considers that cooperation with Albania must focus particularly on the situation of young people whose social and economic situation and educational and training opportunities must be improved.

• [1] Quoted in the IWPR’s Balkan Crisis Report No. 295.