Nikolaos Chountis (GUE/NGL, EL) presents his Draft report on the European integration process of Albania and disussed the content and possible amendments with the members of the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs. Statements by Eduard Kukan (EPP, SK), Doris Pack (EPP, DE) and Libor Rouček (S&D, CZ).

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Enlargement to Albania (T)

CHOUNTIS, Nikolaos (GUE/NGL, EL)

EU - Albania (T)

KUKAN, Eduard (EPP, SK)

PACK, Doris (EPP, DE)

ROUČEK, Libor (S&D, CZ)

EU integration process of Albania: extract from the meeting - AFET Committee

Exterior shot of the EP, Brussels, BE, cutaways meeting

SOUNDBITE (Greek) Nikolaos Chountis (GUE/NGL, EL), rapporteur, "Some of the problems Albania is facing are coming from the fact that there is a weak society. We believe that our support will be an incentive to step up efforts and to work on the political and social forces. Democratisation is important to improve the living conditions of the Albanian people."

SOUNDBITE (Greek) Nikolaos Chountis (GUE/NGL, EL), rapporteur,  (on issue of VISA liberalisation) - "What is going to happen if there is a visa liberalisation, in other words if we have to expect a lot of Albanians coming to the EU member states. Another issue is the technical ground work and rather who will be responsible for it and there are concerns about data protection. Concerning rights and institutional functioning, there has been progress been made, but now we have to look at how they implement these good laws."

SOUNDBITE (Greek) Nikolaos Chountis (GUE/NGL, EL), rapporteur, "Despite the crisis Albania has high economic growth rate, but the question springs to mind, is this economic growth based on real figures and facts, are there reasons to worry as a big part of revenue of the country is based on revenues from abroad. Investments in Albania are coming mainly from two countries, Italy and Greece, this has to be analysed how the situation is now."

SOUNDBITE (English) Eduard Kukan (PPE, SK), "There are many issues which are important on which Albania has to work hard in order to push forward the EU integration process. I think the report should give positive encouragement, without hiding anything which is objective in order to criticise, but should mention positive achievements of the country."

SOUNDBITE (German) Doris Pack (EPP, DE): "And when you suddenly in point 24 talk about education if there would be also everything wrong, but there we can see strongly essential progress in the area of education, therefore I ask for a clear and better separation of political sectors." --

SOUNDBITE (English) Libor Rouček (S&amp;D, CZ): "Yes there is a political crisis, but we can not talk about an institutional crisis, because even with the opposition the Parliament is working, it had passed about 150 laws, which is even more than in the last legislative period, so we have to be aware of that."

SOUNDBITE (English), Libor Rouček (S&amp;D, CZ): "Regional cooperation is very important and again I think we have to acknowledge the positive role the country is playing in the region; Albania is behaving very responsible and we should acknowledge that, also that it can play in the future a strong role in regional cooperation. We have to encourage the capacity of cooperation, if we look at the economic statistics, there is very little trade among the countries in the region and Albania can play a greater role. "