• Dear Deputy Prime Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen,
• Yesterday, the European Commission adopted its 2023 enlargement package, including the annual report on Albania.
• This morning, it is my pleasure to hand over the report to the government.
• This year’s enlargement package takes place in a particular context, which is underpinned by two very important political developments on our continent:
• First, enlargement is firmly back on the EU’s political agenda, in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, to which the EU as a whole has reacted firmly, together with its most important partners, including Albania.
• There is now a renewed consensus that a credible, merit-based enlargement is the key driver of transformation, and thus enhances our collective security and socio-economic prosperity.
• EU enlargement is therefore essential for fostering reconciliation and stability on the European continent.
• As President Von der Leyen said yesterday when presenting the enlargement package, we must respond to the call of history, and work on accelerating EU enlargement and completing the Union.
• The second key driver is the recognition that economic convergence is an essential element in getting Albania and the other Western Balkan countries closer to the EU.
• Currently, the level and speed of convergence between the Western Balkan partners and the EU is not satisfactory – neither in terms of reform processes nor in terms of socio-economic convergence – and is holding back their progress on the EU track.
• This is why the European Commission adopted yesterday, together with the enlargement package, a Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
• The aim of the Growth Plan is to bring forward some of the benefits of membership to the region well in advance of accession, especially in ways that can be felt directly by the citizens of the Western Balkan countries. This is an unprecedented act.
• The objective is to enable partners to step up reforms and investments to significantly accelerate the speed of the enlargement process and the growth of the economies.
• To fill in the current social and economic gap existing between the Western Balkans and the rest of Europe.
• The new Growth Plan is based on four pillars:
• The first pillar aims at enhancing economic integration with the European Union's single market, Albania and the Western Balkans will have to align with single market rules.
• Here the Commission proposes seven priority actions, from the free movement of goods, free movement of services and workers; access to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA); facilitation of Road transport; the integration and de-carbonisation of energy markets; the digital Single Market; and the integration into industrial supply chains.
• The second pillar is about boosting economic integration within the Western Balkans through the Common Regional Market, Albania and the other Western Balkans will have to open the relevant sectors and areas to all their neighbours, based on EU rules and standards, which could potentially add 10% to their economies;
• The third pillar is to accelerate fundamental reforms, in particular on the fundamentals cluster,that will support the Western Balkans' path towards EU membership, and improving sustainable economic growth at the same time, including through attracting foreign investments. Albania will be required to prepare a Reform Agenda every year, with a clear set of few, fundamental priorities
• In order to implement this Reform Agenda, the Growth Plan provides a major increase of financial assistance, conditioned  to the  fulfilment of those reforms

The Commission has proposed a new €6 billion Reform and Growth Facility for the whole region for the period 2024-2027. It will consist of €2 billion in grants and €4 billion in concessional loans.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

• This new political context on enlargement represents a great opportunity for Albania and for the Albanian citizens.
• Albania’s accession process is well on track, more than one year after it was launched: Albania has engaged actively and shown a high level of commitment during the screening process, which has proceeded smoothly, and in the preparation for the next steps of the accession negotiations.
• As the report re-confirmed yesterday, our shared objective is to open the Fundamentals cluster by the end of this year.
• As we are entering the crux of the negotiation process, Albania will have an opportunity to show leadership and demonstrate a clear commitment to advancing fast on the required reforms.
• This is where the country report, adopted by the European Commission yesterday, comes in.
• The report provides a fair assessment of where the country stands, and clear guidance on reform steps that Albania should take.
• Allow me to highlight some of the key findings of the report.
• Overall, the report notes that the Albanian authorities have continued to consistently state their political commitment to the strategic goal of EU integration.
• The Commission recognises that Albania has continued to make progress in reforms under the fundamentals cluster, including with the continued implementation of the comprehensive justice reform.
• Moreover, Albania has maintained its record of alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy. This is of particular relevance in the current geopolitical context.
• The report fully recognises Albania’s active engagement in the UN Security Council since January 2022, notably in relation to the response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
• Albania’s stance is seen as a strong signal of its strategic choice of EU accession and of its role as a reliable partner.
• As regards the political criteria, the report provides first of all a comprehensive assessment of the 14 May local elections.
• While the report notes that elections have been well-administered, competitive and with the participation of key political actors, it also notes concerns relating to the misuse of state resources, claims of pressure on public sector workers and voters, and allegations of vote buying.
• The key message here is that a constructive and inclusive political dialogue from all sides is needed to make progress on the electoral reform, addressing the outstanding recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission. 
• As regards the Parliament, the report notes that the high level of political polarisation has continued to seriously affect parliamentary activity.
• At the same time the Parliament has adopted with a large cross-party majority of legislative amendments to strengthen its role in the EU integration process, which is welcomed.
• The functioning of the judiciary continues to occupy a large part of the annual report. The Commission notes that the implementation of the justice reform continued, resulting in good progress overall.
• Among the positive developments, I would highlight the advancement of the vetting process for judges and prosecutors and the completion of the appointments to the Constitutional Court (to which we could now add the High Court), but also the progress in addressing judicial vacancies and in setting up the case management system.
• At the same time additional efforts are needed notably to increase the efficiency of the justice system and improve access to justice, by addressing the long timescale of proceedings, increased workload and high backlog of cases, which remains particularly high in appeal and first instance courts.
• As to the fight against corruption, it is still considered an area of serious concern, where more needs to be done.  
•  At the same time, SPAK has achieved in the last year concrete results in investigations in a number of high-level cases, including the ordering of several arrests and the achievement of some important convictions.

It is important to continue and develop a solid track in tackling the culture of impunity. The justice authorities will continue to have the European Union on their side

• It will be essential to use much more the crucial instrument of the parallel financial investigations when dealing with all major crimes. “Follow the money” should be the main goal.
• On the fight against organised crime, the good cooperation with EU Members States, Europol and Eurojust has continued. Progress achieved with the seizure and confiscation of assets linked to organised crime must continue. More efforts need to be made in the fight against illicit drugs.
• As regards the fight against money laundering, progress was made on the implementation of the Moneyval recommendations and of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Action Plan, which led to Albania's delisting from the list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring in October.
• In this context, the report stresses that any new possible initiative to introduce a voluntary tax compliance programme, including potential criminal amnesties, will have to comply with the EU acquis and international standards.
• Turning to fundamental rights, one important area where this year’s report continues to raise concerns is freedom of expression.
• While the report notes limited progress, in particular through changes to the audiovisual law to align with the EU Directive on audiovisual media services, it is clear that media independence, pluralism and the quality of journalism continue to be hampered by the intersection of business and political interests, low transparency of financing sources, concentration of media ownership, intimidation and precarious working conditions.
• The report also deplores that the atmosphere of verbal attacks, smear campaigns and acts of intimidation against journalists has not improved.
• We will continue to follow very closely developments in this important area.
• The report also calls for enhanced efforts to consolidate property rights. The process of first registration of property and other transitional processes need to advance in full transparency, including by tackling corruption.
• On the protection of national minorities, the report notes that the adoption of the remaining implementing legislation did not advance. The Commission reiterates its call to adopt the pending by-laws on self-identification and the use of minority languages.
• Furthermore, Albania needs to put in place strong legal and institutional safeguards to prevent further breaches of personal data, including through the adoption of the revised Law on personal data protection, in full alignment with the EU acquis.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

• Albanian people’s desire for Europe is overwhelming. Reliable polls repeatedly show that support for Albania’s integration within the EU is very high.
• EU integration already delivers results on the ground, it is already happening every day improving the lives of so many Albanian people.
• I invite the government and all responsible institutions to take full advantage of the EU’s renewed political focus on EU enlargement as well as ambition to close the economic and social gap separating the Western Balkans from the EU.
• Strong political leadership is needed to accelerate EU-related reforms and therefore advance fast in their accession negotiations.
• This will require a broad cross-party spirit, a solid negotiation structure, as well as - very importantly - effective consultation mechanisms with the wider society and stakeholders so that Albanians can understand and follow closely the changes the country will need to make to integrate in the EU. 
• Let us not forget that the reforms Albania makes are not only necessary for Albania to meet EU accession criteria but principally about improving the life and well-being of people in Albania.
• The EU Delegation will continue to be there to support Albania with the big challenges ahead. We look forward to continue our close cooperation with the government and other key institutions.   

Thank you.