Compte rendu in extenso des débats

Mercredi 12 décembre 2012 - Strasbourg

16. Rapport 2012 concernant les progrès accomplis par l'Albanie (débat)

  Presidente. − L'ordine del giorno reca la discussione sulle dichiarazioni del Consiglio e della Commissione sulla relazione 2012 sui progressi compiuti dall'Albania.

  Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, President-in-Office of the Council. − Madam President, I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate this evening.

Albania is an important country in the region. We cooperate widely with Albania in a range of areas and conduct extensive political dialogue. Our relations are gaining in importance, reflecting the significant and growing role of Albania in the region. It is fully involved, in particular, in regional initiatives such as the Regional Cooperation Council and the South-East European Cooperation Process. Furthermore, Albania chaired the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe during 2012.

I would like to thank the Parliament for its valuable contribution to this debate, and, in particular, extend my appreciation to the rapporteur, Nikolaos Chountis, for his valuable work. I think there is a very great deal on which the Council and the Parliament can agree.

In its conclusions adopted last night, the Council welcomed the progress made by Albania to meet the 12 key priorities that were outlined in the Commission’s opinion of 2010. Dialogue between the Government and the Opposition has improved significantly, paving the way for the progress needed to fulfil the political criteria for membership of the European Union. Albania has met four of the key priorities and is well on the way to meeting two more. These cover, in particular, the areas of the functioning of the parliament, electoral reform and public administration reform.

Progress has also been achieved in other areas which remain priorities, for example: the lifting of immunities for high-level public officials and judges, and an increase in seizures of criminal assets. The Council has taken note of the Commission’s recommendation to grant candidate status, subject to completion of key measures in the areas of judicial and public administration reform, and revision of the parliamentary rules of procedure. With a view to deciding whether to grant candidate status, the Commission has been asked to report as soon as the necessary progress has been achieved, while also taking into account further action taken by Albania to fight corruption and organised crime.

There are other areas where we need to see further efforts from Albania. These include rule of law issues, strengthening the independence of the judiciary, as well as its efficiency and accountability, and the protection of minorities. These are all central to the country’s path towards the European Union.

Allow me to close by referring to next year’s parliamentary elections. We all know that elections in Albania have often been contested. The successful conduct of the elections in June next year will be essential for demonstrating the commitment of all of Albania’s political parties to electoral reform. This will be a crucial test for the smooth functioning of the country’s democratic institutions. Sustained political dialogue and continuing efforts in all the areas covered by the key priorities will remain critical to the reform process and to Albania’s future progress towards the European Union.

  Štefan Füle, Member of the Commission. − Madam President, I would like to thank Parliament, and in particular the rapporteur, Mr Chountis, for his excellent report on Albania. I welcome the report’s support for Albania’s European perspective and the acknowledgement of the potential of the European integration process as a major driving force for reforms and cross-party political cooperation in the country.

The report is largely in line with the assessment and recommendations made by the Commission in its Enlargement Package, and it strikes the right balance between the recognition of the achievements made by Albania and the emphasis on continuing the implementation of reforms in all areas under the 12 key priorities identified in the Commission’s 2010 opinion on Albania’s application for membership of the European Union.

Let me turn to the 2012 Commission Progress Report on Albania. This year’s report reflects a new situation in the country which stems from the implementation of the November 2011 political agreement between government and opposition. This agreement marked the end of the political stalemate and paved the way for stronger cross-party cooperation which made a number of important reforms possible in the areas under the key priorities of the opinion.

Taking this progress into account, the Commission recommended granting candidate country status to Albania, subject to completion of key measures in the areas of judicial and public administration reform and the finalisation of the revision of the rules of procedure of parliament.

We have been clear on what Albania needs to do to continue progressing on its European integration path. Unfortunately, the country’s political leaders have not always been able to consistently place European Union integration at the top of their political agenda and have not always been willing to make the necessary political compromises that cross-party support for fundamental reforms evidently requires. The necessary conditions are still outstanding so we need to continue encouraging our Albanian friends in government and opposition to focus on the European Union integration process.

Beyond the key short-term measures I have just mentioned, Albania faces many challenges, particularly in the area of the rule of law, which, as underlined in your resolution, is at the centre of the Commission’s approach to enlargement. Ownership of the reform process and political maturity are essential in this respect.

Albania will need to build on what it has already achieved and consolidate and sustain a constructive political dialogue. This is essential if it is to continue delivering on reforms. Albania will also need to provide further evidence and demonstrate concrete results in fighting corruption, money laundering and organised crime. The successful conduct of parliamentary elections in June 2013 will be an essential element for Albania’s European Union integration perspective.

We share your view on Albania’s good neighbourly relations and constructive contribution to regional stability. These are essential elements of the European integration process. We need to send a strong message encouraging Albania to continue with its constructive regional stance, emphasising to its political leaders the importance of clear messages promoting cooperation and good neighbourly relations.

Let me conclude by thanking you, honourable Members, for your continued support, which is essential to the enlargement process in general and to Albanian efforts. I am looking forward to the debate.

  Νικόλαος Χουντής, εξ ονόματος της ομάδας GUE/NGL. – Κυρία Πρόεδρε, παρά το γεγονός ότι η έκθεση του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου για την ενταξιακή προοπτική της Αλβανίας συζητείται σχεδόν ταυτόχρονα με το Συμβούλιο, το οποίο παίρνει και τις αποφάσεις που μας ανέφερε η κυρία Υπουργός, νομίζω ότι η έκθεση του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου έχει τη σημασία της. Η έκθεση υπερψηφίστηκε από την Επιτροπή Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων από όλες τις πολιτικές ομάδες. Και γι’ αυτό θέλω να ευχαριστήσω όλους τους συναδέλφους και ιδιαίτερα τους σκιώδεις εισηγητές για τη συμβολή και τη στήριξή τους.

Η έκθεση για την ενταξιακή προοπτική της Αλβανίας για άλλη μια φορά υπογραμμίζει το γεγονός ότι, εφόσον η ένταξη της Αλβανίας στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση είναι επιθυμία του αλβανικού λαού, εμείς οφείλουμε αυτήν την επιθυμία να τη σεβαστούμε, πρέπει δε να δημιουργηθεί το κίνητρο για να αντιμετωπιστούν τα προβλήματα που έχει η χώρα αυτή: προβλήματα σε σχέση με τη δημοκρατία, το κράτος δικαίου, τη διαφθορά, τα μειονοτικά και εργασιακά δικαιώματα. Μ’ αυτήν την έννοια, η υπόθεση της ένταξης είναι υπόθεση της αλβανικής κοινωνίας, όχι απλώς των αλβανικών δυνάμεων. Έχουν γίνει βήματα προόδου, αλλά πρέπει να γίνουν ακόμη περισσότερα. Η έκθεση επισημαίνει ορισμένα από αυτά.

Θα ήθελα, όμως, κύριε Επίτροπε και κυρία Υπουργέ, να σταθώ στις πρόσφατες δηλώσεις του Αλβανού Πρωθυπουργού. Οι δηλώσεις αυτές έγιναν αφού η επιτροπή ενέκρινε το ψήφισμα και δημιούργησαν ένταση, υπονόμευσαν δε το κλίμα και τις σχέσεις καλής γειτονίας στην περιοχή. Παρά την προσπάθεια να ανασκευαστούν, νομίζω ότι τέτοιες τοποθετήσεις και αντίστοιχες πρακτικές εθνικιστικού και αλυτρωτικού περιεχομένου πρέπει να αποφεύγονται· δεν δικαιολογούνται κάτω από οποιαδήποτε σκοπιμότητα· αφορούν μια πολύ ευαίσθητη και πολύπαθη περιοχή όπως είναι τα Βαλκάνια.

Μ’ αυτήν την έννοια, το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο και οι άλλοι ευρωπαϊκοί θεσμοί θα πρέπει να σταθούν αυστηρά και αποφασιστικά σε τέτοιες αντιλήψεις ούτως ώστε να απαιτήσουν να ενισχυθούν οι σχέσεις καλής γειτονίας της Αλβανίας με τις άλλες χώρες, όχι μόνο για να κρατηθεί ζωντανή η ενταξιακή προοπτική της Αλβανίας αλλά για την ασφάλεια, τη σταθερότητα και την ειρήνη στην περιοχή.

  Eduard Kukan, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, we welcome this report and congratulate the rapporteur. We also congratulate the Albanians on their achievements, and would like to encourage them to build on them.

The Commission gave a strong positive signal to Albania in its last progress report by recommending candidate country status for Albania, subject to the fulfilment of three remaining conditions. We believe that this should become a driving force for Albania in its progress towards European integration, and I think that this is crucial to the process for the following reasons.

First, the EU agenda must not divide politicians in Albania and should not be treated as a bargaining chip in terms of internal politics. It needs to be a unifying factor. The report appreciates the efforts made so far, but it is also worth mentioning that political dialogue and political cooperation on the EU agenda cannot be selective, but needs to be solidly based within the system. There are still some concerns around this.

Second, the EU has been very clear and explicit as regards its expectations of Albania. We agreed on key priorities which need to be fulfilled before the next steps in the process. The credibility of this process should be based on fair and rigorous conditionality. We should expect fulfilment of what was agreed on.

Finally, Albania still has a good chance in the near future of progressing towards the EU. After a long time, we now have encouraging reports, but an important check in this respect is still to come. The elections offer a great opportunity to show how firmly politicians and mechanisms are rooted in democratic values.

  Libor Rouček, on behalf of the S&D Group.– Mr President, my Group, the Socialists and Democrats, fully supports the future accession of Albania into the EU. Today we are discussing the progress report. Albania has made huge progress over the last 12 months. This progress is based on cooperation between and among the major political forces in Albania. Without that cooperation between the government and opposition, this progress would not be possible. So I would like to call on our Albanian friends, both in government and opposition, to continue along this path. Without this cooperation, there would be no further progress in those areas that have been mentioned both by the Minister and the Commissioner.

What will be crucial next year are the elections: not so much the outcome, but the electoral process itself, both before the elections and during the elections. In the last elections – national and regional – there were many problems. What is important is that this time, in June 2013, progress is made on the electoral process.

Finally, let me mention the issue of regional cooperation. Up to now, Albania has played a very positive and constructive role as far as the region is concerned, with reference to Kosovo and FYROM (Macedonia). Unfortunately, as our rapporteur Mr Chountis mentioned, recently there were some noises in Tirana which pointed to a more nationalistic route. We do not think that is the right course, either for Albania or for the region. Again we would like to urge both the forces in government and in opposition to refrain from such rhetoric.

Albania is a crucial country for us. It is very important. As I said, up to now the country has played a very constructive role. We hope that the country will continue on this path, in other words, on the path towards EU accession.

  Marije Cornelissen, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, concerning Albania, one of our greatest worries is always the political climate, the lack of even the willingness to cooperate between the different main parties. Things seem to have improved in the last year, and for a while their parliament seemed to be in working order. But now I am not so sure. In November, three requested pieces of legislation failed to pass in the parliament as a result of a totally unrelated power struggle. Why?

Prime Minister Berisha announced that all ethnic Albanians could get Albanian passports, knowing full well what this would cause in the region. He has been a politician for far too long not to realise this. Why?

Our parliamentary delegation meeting, which was planned for next week, was cancelled at the last moment. I had my suitcase ready. I was looking forward to constructive and cooperative dialogue with the coalition and opposition, but they obviously were not. Why? All of that came just before a very important Council meeting. It was basically a concerted effort to ruin all chances of Albania gaining candidate status. Why on earth?

To me it seems that the campaign for next year’s election has started in earnest already, this early. Disregarding what the country needs, disregarding the European agenda. I for one would love to grant the people of Albania candidate status, but I am afraid that their chosen politicians have again lost themselves in an internal power struggle, and that that will not be possible until they get their priorities straight again.

So please, please, Mr Berisha, Mr Rama, in the interests of your people, please. Thank you.

  Μαριέττα Γιαννάκου (PPE). - Κυρία Πρόεδρε, σαφέστατα υποστηρίζουμε τη διάθεση και τις προσπάθειες της Αλβανίας να γίνει μέλος της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης. Και βέβαια συγχαίρω τον εισηγητή, κύριο Χουντή, για την πάρα πολύ ισορροπημένη έκθεσή του. Είναι φανερό ότι το Συμβούλιο θα κρίνει μάλλον ότι η Αλβανία δεν πληροί τις προϋποθέσεις, δηλαδή δεν πληροί κυρίως τα δώδεκα κριτήρια που έθεσε η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή για να μπορέσει η Αλβανία να προχωρήσει και να αποκτήσει ευρωπαϊκή προοπτική.

Ωστόσο, αυτό μπορεί να αποτελέσει ένα έναυσμα για σταθερότερη πολιτική στην Αλβανία, για συνεννόηση μεταξύ των αλβανικών πολιτικών δυνάμεων και κυρίως για ρύθμιση ορισμένων θεμάτων που παραμένουν εκκρεμή, όπως είναι η διαφθορά που υπάρχει ακόμη, το οργανωμένο έγκλημα, το ξέπλυμα χρημάτων καθώς και η διαφθορά στη δικαιοσύνη. Επίσης υπάρχουν προβλήματα στα θέματα ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων, κυρίως σε σχέση με τα ζητήματα της ιδιοκτησίας, δεδομένου ότι υπάρχουν μειονότητες αναγνωρισμένες διεθνώς, όπως η ελληνική μειονότητα.

Τέλος, σχολιάστηκε η στάση του κυρίου Μπερίσα ο οποίος, όταν εορταζόταν στη Βλόρα η 100ή επέτειος του κράτους που δημιουργήθηκε τότε για την Αλβανία, έκανε λόγο για πέντε χώρες στις οποίες βρίσκονται Αλβανοί και αλβανικές μειονότητες. Σήμερα επιχειρήθηκε η αλλαγή αυτού του σχολίου και έκανε τα πράγματα χειρότερα.

Λαμβάνοντας υπόψη ότι στη χώρα μας υπάρχουν μόνον Αλβανοί οικονομικοί μετανάστες που εργάζονται και στέλνουν χρήματα στη χώρα τους, και σε καμία περίπτωση δεν υπήρξε ποτέ αλβανική μειονότητα, θα πρέπει να ξεκαθαριστεί προς την πλευρά αυτή ότι δεν είναι δυνατόν με μεγαλοϊδεατισμούς και μισαλλοδοξία να υποδέχονται τις ευρωπαϊκές αποφάσεις. Είναι προφανές ότι ο Αλβανός Πρωθυπουργός έκανε αυτήν την κίνηση εθνικιστικού χαρακτήρα αναμένοντας την αρνητική για τη χώρα του απόφαση του Συμβουλίου. Πρέπει να του δοθεί ένα μήνυμα ότι η Αλβανία δεν θα χάσει το παιχνίδι εκ των έξω αν συνεχίσει έτσι, αλλά έχει μεγάλες πιθανότητες να το χάσει εκ των έσω.

  Евгени Кирилов (S&D). - Г-жо Председател, г-н Комисар, първо бих искал да поздравя докладчика за балансирания документ, който добре отразява успехите и предизвикателствата пред Албания като потенциална държава кандидат за членство в Съюза. Оценявайки постигнатото сега, вярвам, че Албания има потенциала да се справи с трудностите по своя път към интеграцията.

Бих желал, обаче, както и вече беше отбелязано, да споделя тревога, свързана с националистическата риторика, по повод неотдавнашното честване на стогодишнината от независимостта на страната, и може би по-конкретно да дам пример. По този повод на огромен митинг в Скопие премиерът Бериша говори за осъществяване на национално обединение на етническите албанци в региона, а в друга реч в Тирана - за албанските земи, простиращи се от Скопие до Подгорица, две столици на съседни на Албания държави.

Подобни изявления ни най-малко не съдействат за атмосферата на доверие и добросъседство. Напротив, те водят до нарастване на междуетническото напрежение, както това например се забеляза на този огромен митинг в Скопие.

Ние трябва да изпратим ясен сигнал (аз съм съгласен и с докладчика, и с колегите) към властите в Албания, че подобна националистическа риторика е неприемлива.

  Bernd Posselt (PPE). - Frau Präsidentin! Die Albaner sind wahrscheinlich eines der ältesten Völker Europas. Als man 1878 beim Berliner Kongress den Balkan neu geordnet hat, da hat man sie einfach übergangen, und sie waren das einzige Balkanvolk, das überhaupt keine Rechte und keine Staatlichkeit bekam. Das ist dann 1912 geschehen mit willkürlichen Grenzziehungen nach den Interessen der Großmächte und mit einem Massaker im Kosovo, das der mährische Sozialdemokrat Leo Freundlich in einem Buch beschrieben hat, das heute noch sehr eindrucksvoll ist. Es war ein unglaublicher Genozid, der dort von den königlich-serbischen Truppen verübt wurde, und den dann auch die Carnegie-Stiftung untersucht hat.

Deshalb sage ich eines ganz klar: Daß zur 100-Jahr-Feier dieses Ereignisses Reden gehalten wurden, die die geschichtlichen Tatsachen erwähnen, ist normal, auch wenn sie vielleicht nicht sehr klug waren. Aber wir sagen auch unseren albanischen Freunden: Im heutigen Europa sind Grenzen unveränderlich. Wir wollen keine Grenzveränderungen, wir wollen garantierte Grenzen und wir wollen einen Abbau dieser Grenzen. Dazu müssen wir aber auch unseren Beitrag leisten.

Die Sache mit den Pässen ist natürlich nicht sehr klug. Wenn wir aber weiterhin den Kosovaren verweigern, dass sie Visafreiheit in Europa bekommen, wenn wir weiterhin den Albanern im Preševo-Tal in Serbien die elementaren Minderheitenrechte verweigern, dann brauchen wir uns nicht zu wundern, wenn die Ereignisse sich negativ entwickeln. Jedes Volk lässt sich nur bis zu einem bestimmten Punkt unterdrücken.

Deshalb: Kritik an den Albanern – ja, aber auch an allen anderen. Serbien hat in seiner Verfassung stehen, dass es Gebietsansprüche auf das Kosovo erhebt, hat aber den Kandidatenstatus, und andere werden wegen einer einzigen Rede kritisiert. Wir brauchen eine europäische Perspektive für Albanien, keine Grenzänderungen und Minderheitenschutz mit gleichem Status für alle.

Procedura "catch the eye"

  Γεώργιος Τούσσας (GUE/NGL). - Το Συμβούλιο και το ψήφισμα του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου αξιολογούν την ενταξιακή πορεία της Αλβανίας με βάση τα κριτήρια των Συνθηκών του Μάαστριχτ, της Κοπεγχάγης, της Λισαβόνας, τις τέσσερις ελευθερίες του κεφαλαίου, τη στρατηγική της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης «Ευρώπη 2020»· καπιταλιστικές αναδιαρθρώσεις στην οικονομία για τη διείσδυση των ευρωπαϊκών μονοπωλίων στην Αλβανία, για την άγρια εκμετάλλευση των εργαζομένων, των πλουτοπαραγωγικών πηγών - πετρέλαιο, φυσικό αέριο, ορυκτός πλούτος - και ταυτόχρονα ενίσχυση του αστικού πολιτικού συστήματος, των κατασταλτικών μηχανισμών για τη χειραγώγηση του εργατικού κινήματος. Τα εθνικιστικά και σοβινιστικά κηρύγματα και οι πολιτικές - «χρυσός κανόνας» - της αστικής τάξης αξιοποιούνται για την εκμετάλλευση των λαών στην ευρύτερη περιοχή των Βαλκανίων.

Εκφράζουμε τη ριζική αντίθεση του Κομμουνιστικού Κόμματος Ελλάδας στην ένταξη της Αλβανίας στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Οι λαοί αντιπαλεύουν την ενσωμάτωση νέων κρατών στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Η πάλη για την αποδέσμευση από την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση είναι άρρηκτα συνδεδεμένη με την ανατροπή της εξουσίας των μονοπωλίων για τη λαϊκή εξουσία και οικονομία, για την ανάπτυξη σχέσεων φιλίας και συνεργασίας των λαών στη βάση του αμοιβαίου οφέλους.

(Ο αγορητής συμφωνεί να απαντήσει σε ερώτηση "γαλάζια κάρτα" (άρθρο 149, παράγραφος 8 του Κανονισμού)).

  Bernd Posselt (PPE), Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“. – Frau Präsidentin! Ich bin absolut für den EU-Beitritt Albaniens und auch für den Kandidatenstatus, den es so rasch wie möglich bekommen soll, und möchte den Kollegen Toussas fragen, ob nicht die Albaner selbst entscheiden können, ob sie der EU beitreten wollen, oder ob das die Entscheidung der griechischen Kommunisten ist?

  Γεώργιος Τούσσας (GUE/NGL), απάντηση "γαλάζια κάρτα". – Είναι προφανές ότι είναι κυρίαρχη η άποψη του αλβανικού λαού σε ό,τι αφορά την επιλογή που θα κάνει. Όμως όλοι, ως πολιτικά κόμματα, έχουμε ευθύνη να τοποθετηθούμε τόσο για την Αλβανία όσο και για τις άλλες χώρες. Τους ίδιους λόγους για τους οποίους ταχθήκαμε ενάντια στην ένταξη της Ελλάδας στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, αυτούς τους ίδιους λόγους επικαλούμαστε και για την Αλβανία.

(Fine della procedura catch the eye)

  Štefan Füle, Member of the Commission. − Mr President, I am grateful for this opportunity to exchange views with you today on Albania’s prospects in relation to the European Union. I believe that the resolution that you referred to sends the right message to Albania by both acknowledging the hard work done so far and strongly encouraging all political parties and other stakeholders to remain focused on European integration and on the reform process.

Like the European Parliament, the Commission also regards Albania’s future as being closely linked to the European Union. We are ready to stand by our recommendation on granting candidate country status, but Albania will have to deliver. We will report to the Council as soon as necessary. Progress has been achieved, including looking into the efforts made in the area of the rule of law.

With your support, I am confident that enlargement will remain a strong and credible policy with the rule of law at its centre, to the benefit of the citizens of Albania and all the enlargement countries as well as the European Union.

  Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, President-in-Office of the Council. − Madam President, integration within the European Union can only result from significant efforts at national level and from collective commitment. Above all, Albania needs to ensure a stable and constructive political dialogue. The high level of support among Albanian citizens for European integration is a significant basis on which its political leaders can build a common platform in the interests of the country as a whole.

Let me conclude by highlighting the remarkable progress Albania has made over the past year. It has demonstrated political will and delivered concrete results in bringing about much-needed reform. I am confident that this high level of commitment will continue and that we will see further positive developments during 2015.

  Presidente. − Comunico di aver ricevuto una proposta di risoluzione⁽¹⁾ conformemente all'articolo 110, paragrafo 2 del regolamento.

La discussione è chiusa.

La votazione si svolgerà giovedì 13 dicembre 2012.

Dichiarazioni scritte (articolo 149)

  Zita Gurmai (S&D), in writing. – The progresses achieved by Albania this year needs to be underlined, especially after two years of political stalemate. However, a lot remains to be done as to fulfilling the membership criteria.

I welcome the legislation adopted against domestic violence but I notice at the same time that several reports pointed out the very high number of cases of trafficking in human beings. This is an issue that the Albanian government has to acknowledge and firmly address. The protection of minorities, especially the living situation of the Roma community, also needs to be improved.

When it comes to justice and the rule of law, despite some important positive signs, such as the functioning of the parliamentary institutions, the dialogue between the government and the opposition must be further encouraged in order to pursue the much needed reforms. I am referring here to the fight against corruption and organised crime, and to the reform of the judiciary. It is my understanding that the Socialist opposition had asked for a national debate on the rule of law in Albania, and I regret that the ruling majority did not accept this proposal.

(1) Vedasi processo verbale