Proposal for a Council Decision on the Principles, Priorities and Conditions contained in the European Partnership with Albania {SEC(2005) 1421}
Date: 2005-11-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Albania, accession criteria, accession to the European Union, association agreement (EU), cooperation agreement, economic policy, economic stabilisation, political situation, rule of law

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 9.11.2005 
COM(2005) 553 final 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

On the Principles, Priorities and Conditions contained in the European Partnership with 
Albania 

(presented by the Commission) 

{SEC(2005) 1421} 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

In Thessaloniki, the European Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 reiterated its determination to 
fully  and  effectively  support  the  European  perspective  of  the  Western  Balkan  countries.  It 
endorsed  the  Council’s  Conclusions  of  16  June  2003  on  the  Western  Balkan  countries 
including  the  annex  “The  Thessaloniki  Agenda  for  the  Western  Balkans:  moving  towards 
European integration”, which introduced the European Partnerships as a means to materialise 
the  European  perspective  of  the  Western  Balkan  countries  within  the  framework  of  the 
Stabilisation and Association Process. 

In early 2004, the Commission presented its first European Partnership with Albania. It was 
adopted by the Council on 14 June 2004. The Commission considers it appropriate to update 
this first Partnership on the basis of its findings in the 2005 Progress Report on Albania. 

This renewed European Partnership is based on the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 
533/2004  of  22  March  2004.  It  lists  short-  and  medium-term  priorities  for  the  country’s 
preparations  for  further  integration  with  the  European  Union.  The  country  is  expected  to 
respond  to  the  European  Partnership  by  preparing  a  plan  with  a  timetable  and  specific 
measures  in  terms  of  how  it  intends  to  address  the  European  Partnership  priorities.  The 
progress  in  implementing  the  priorities  will  be  monitored  regularly  by  the  Commission, 
through  the  Progress  Reports  and  through  the  structures  set  up  under  the  Stabilisation  and 
Association Process. 

The  European  Partnership  priorities  should  form  the  basis  for  programming  the  financial 
assistance  of  the  Community,  which  will  continue  to  be  provided  under  relevant  financial 
instruments,  in  particular  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  2666/2000  of  5  December  2000 
(CARDS). 

The  proposed  Council  Decision  has  no  financial  implications.  In  view  of  the  above,  the 
Commission invites the Council to adopt the attached draft Council decision. 

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Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

On the Principles, Priorities and Conditions contained in the European Partnership with 
Albania 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 

Having  regard  to  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  533/2004  on  the  establishment  of  European 
Partnerships in the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Process and in particular to 
Article 2 thereof1, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

The  European  Council  endorsed  the  introduction  of  the  European  Partnerships  as  a 
means to materialise the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries within 
the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Process. 

Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 sets out that the Council is to decide on the principles, 
priorities and conditions to be contained in the European Partnerships, as well as any 
subsequent adjustments. 

The Council adopted on 14 June 2004 a first European Partnership with Albania2. It is 
appropriate to update this Partnership in order to identify renewed priorities for further 
work,  on  the  basis  of  the  findings  of  the  2005  Progress  Report  on  Albania’s 
preparations for further integration with the European Union. 

Regulation  (EC)  No  533/2004  indicated  that  the  follow  up  of  the  European 
Partnerships  will  be  ensured  within  the  framework  of  the  mechanisms  established 
under the Stabilisation and Association Process. 

In  order  to  prepare  for  further  integration  with  the  European  Union,  Albania  is 
expected  to  develop  a  plan  with  a  timetable  and  specific  measures  to  address  the 
priorities of this European Partnership. 

1 
2 

OJ L 86, 24.3.2004, p. 1. 
Council Decision 2004/519/EC of 14 June 2004 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in 
the European Partnership with Albania (OJ L 223, 24.6.2004, p. 20). 

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HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

In accordance  with Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 533/2004, the principles, priorities and 
conditions in the European Partnership with Albania are set out in the annex hereto. 

Article 2 

The implementation of the European Partnership shall be examined through the mechanisms 
established  under  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Process  and  through  the  Commission’s 
Progress Reports. 

Article 3 

This  Decision  shall  take  effect  on  the  third  day  following  its  publication  in  the  Official 
Journal of the European Union. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 
The President 

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ANNEX 

ALBANIA: 2005 EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP 

1. 

INTRODUCTION 

The  European  Council  endorsed  the  introduction  of  the  European  Partnerships  as  a  means  to 
materialise  the  European  perspective  of  the  Western  Balkan  countries  within  the  framework  of  the 
Stabilisation and Association Process. 

The  first  European  Partnership  with  Albania  was  adopted  by  the Council  on  14  June  2004 (Council 
Decision 2004/519/EC3). It is appropriate to update this first partnership on the basis of the findings of 
the 2005 Progress Report on Albania. The second  European Partnership identifies new priorities for 
action. The new priorities are adapted to the country’s specific needs and stage of preparation and will 
be updated as necessary. The European Partnership also provides guidance for financial assistance to 
the country. 

Albania is expected to develop a plan with a timetable and specific measures to address the priorities. 

2. 

PRINCIPLES 

The  Stabilisation  and  Association  Process  remains  the  framework  for  the  European  course  of  the 
Western Balkan countries, all the way to their future accession. 

The  main  priorities  identified  for  Albania  relate  to  its  capacity  to  meet  the  criteria  defined  by  the 
Copenhagen  European  Council  of  1993  and  the  conditions  set  for  the  Stabilisation  and  Association 
Process, notably the conditions defined by the Council in its Conclusions of 29 April 1997 and 21 and 
22 June 1999, the content of the final declaration of the Zagreb Summit of 24 November 2000 and the 
Thessaloniki Agenda. 

3. 

PRIORITIES 

The priorities listed in this European Partnership have been selected on the basis that it is realistic to 
expect that the country can complete them or take them substantially forward over the next few years. 
A distinction is made between short-term priorities, which are expected to be accomplished within one 
to two years, and medium-term priorities, which are expected to be accomplished within three to four 
years. The priorities concern both legislation and the implementation thereof. 

Taking into account the substantial costs involved with meeting all the EU requirements as well as the 
complexity of these requirements in certain areas, this partnership does not include all important tasks 
at  this  stage.  Future  partnerships  will  include  further  priorities  in  line  with  progress  made  by  the 
country. 

Among  the  short  term  priorities,  the  key  priorities  have  been  identified  and  grouped  together  at  the 
beginning  of  section  3.1.  The  order  of  these  key  priorities  does  not  imply  a  ranking  in  their 
importance. 

3 

OJ L 223, 24.6.2004. p. 20. 

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3.1. 

Short-term priorities 

Key Priorities 

–  Achieve improved concrete results in the fight against organised crime, in particular by making full 
use of the provisions of the new organised crime laws and accelerating the implementation of the 
action-oriented measures against organised crime. 

–  Implement and update the 2004-2005 anti-corruption action plan and the recommendations of the 

Council of Europe’s Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) Evaluation Reports. 

–  Implement  existing  legislation  on  the  restitution/compensation  of  real  estate.  In  particular, 
accelerate  both  the  first  registration  of  properties  and  the  processing  of  restitution  claims  and 
ensure that strategies and mechanisms for compensation are sustainable. 

–  Foster  media  freedom,  in  particular  by  expediting  the  adoption  of  appropriate  legislation  for  the 
print media and improve legislation on the electronic media, taking into account EU standards. 

–  Further strengthen public sector governance, in particular public investment management, planning 

and execution. 

Political Requirements 

DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW 

Governance 

–  Ensure political focus and institutional commitment and encourage constructive consensus on the 
implementation  of  the  reforms  necessary  for  progress  within  the  Stabilisation  and  Association 
Process. 

Elections 

–  Prepare 

the  2006 

the 
recommendations  issued  by  OSCE/ODIHR  following  the  2005  parliamentary  elections,  in 
particular by improving voters’ lists. 

local  elections  properly  and 

implementing  promptly 

time, 

in 

Public administration 

–  Ensure  the  application  of  the  Law  on  Public  Service  in  public  administration  appointments  and 

operation. 

–  Ensure  that  recruitment,  transfer  and  dismissal  of  civil  servants  are  conducted  according  to  the 

established rules. 

–  Ensure enforcement of the Civil Service Law and take steps towards its improvement. 

–  Ensure  the  availability  of  appropriate  premises,  equipment  and  trained  staff  to  the  Ministry  of 

European Integration, and improve co-ordination between it and the line ministries. 

–  Make full and effective use of the Integrated Planning System. 

Judicial system 

–  Increase the transparency of the criminal and civil justice process. 

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–  Guarantee that judges and prosecutors are appointed through competitive examinations. 

–  Foster the status, independence and constitutional protection of judges. 

–  Establish objective rules for the transparent assignment of cases to judges. 

–  Establish a transparent and merit-based system for the evaluation of prosecutors. 

–  Improve co-ordination between prosecutors and police. 

–  Ensure  that  the  relevant  international  conventions  are  observed  in  establishing  and  running  new 

penitentiary facilities. 

–  Ensure that the appropriate resources are available for credible witness protection. 

–  Achieve a continuous increase in the rate of execution of court rulings. 

Anti corruption policy 

–  Adopt  the  necessary  legislation  to  harmonise  the  Albanian  legal  framework  with  European 
Conventions  on  Corruption  (in  criminal  and  civil  matters)  ratified  by  Albania  as  well  as  the 
relevant UN Conventions. 

–  Improve the existing legislation on bribery and implement it with due regard for inter-ministerial 

co-ordination. 

–  Ensure enforcement of the Law on Declaration of Assets. 

–  Strengthen the institutional capacity to investigate and prosecute corruption. 

–  Ensure that the Specialised Unit attached to the Tirana Prosecution Office (dealing with financial 

crimes) also covers corruption cases. 

–  Reduce  the  list  of  officials  covered  by  immunity,  and  grant  immunity  only  where  strictly 

appropriate. 

HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE PROTECTION OF MINORITIES 

Observance of international human rights law 

–  Ensure that all law enforcement bodies are fully aware of their human rights obligations, and that 
they implement them in accordance with international conventions ratified by Albania, in particular 
the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). 

–  Address  cases  of  ill-treatment  by  law  enforcement  bodies  through  appropriate  prosecution  of 

perpetrators. 

–  Ensure the compliance of the Albanian Criminal Code with the UN Convention against Torture. 

–  Implement the 2004 master plan to improve conditions for detainees and prisoners on remand 

–  Ensure that the code of ethics for the prisons system is rigorously observed. 

Civil and political rights 

–  Bring Albania’s legislation on defamation into line with EU standards, and implement it. 

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–  Expedite effective legislation to ensure transparency on media ownership. 

–  Improve  the  management  of  the  National  Council  on  Radio  and  Television  and  finalise  the 

National Plan for Radio and Television Frequencies. 

–  Promote the independence and professional standards of journalists. 

–  Ensure that legal measures forbidding the sale of state property before restitution can take place are 

rigorously enforced. 

Minority rights, cultural rights and the protection of minorities 

–  Improve  the  legal  framework  on  minorities  so  that  it  meets  the  requirements  of  the  Council  of 
Europe  Framework  Convention  for  the  Protection  of  National  Minorities,  and  ensure  its 
implementation throughout Albania. 

–  Implement the National Strategy for the Roma, as part of the government’s strategy for combating 

poverty and social exclusion. Provide accurate data on the size of minorities in Albania. 

REGIONAL CO-OPERATION AND INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS 

–  Comply with the Stabilisation and Association Process and Thessaloniki commitments in terms of 

regional co-operation and good neighbourly relations. 

–  Ensure implementation of all regional free trade agreements. 

–  Conclude  and  implement  agreements  with  neighbouring  countries  and  ensure  their  effective 
implementation,  notably  on  trade,  cross  border  co-operation,  the  fight  against  organised  crime, 
trafficking  and  smuggling,  judicial  co-operation,  border  management,  readmission,  environment, 
transport and energy. 

Economic Requirements 

–  Maintain  macro-economic  stability  by  accelerating  fiscal  reforms,  in  particular  regarding  the 

budget process, expenditure management and public sector pay reform. 

–  Improve  budgeting  procedures  through  strengthened  links  between  policy  objectives  and  budget 

planning and execution. 

–  Reduce the grey economy by effective and non-discriminatory enforcement of tax legislation and 

intensifying the fight against fiscal fraud. 

–  Take steps to allow for the successful privatisation of Albtelecom. 

–  Improve macroeconomic statistics and the coverage of the business register. 

–  Implement  the  National  Strategy  for  Social  and  Economic  Development,  ensuring  close  co-
ordination with the updated Action Plan for the Implementation of European Partnership Priorities. 

–  Take measures to improve social protection systems and to combat social exclusion. 

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European Standards 

INTERNAL MARKET  

Free movement of goods 

–  Strengthen the administrative capacity of the WTO Secretariat and the Export Promotion Agency. 

–  Take  measures  to  increase  the  awareness  of  economic  operators  in  relation  to  the  concepts  of 

standards and certification and their importance in international trade. 

–  Design  a  national  market  surveillance  strategy  and  strengthen  the  Consumer  Protection 

Department. 

–  Ensure that the Accreditation Department has an adequate physical infrastructure and trained staff, 
and  adopt  a  comprehensive  work  plan  for  Albania’s  future  membership  of  the  European  Co-
operation for Accreditation (EA).  

Movement of persons, services and right of establishment 

–  Modify  the  present  legislation  on  the  right  of  establishment  to  fully  ensure  equal  treatment  of 
foreign and domestic firms, a clear distinction between the temporary and permanent provision of 
services and compatibility with SAA requirements. 

–  Ensure proportionality in the treatment of cross-border provision of services. 

–  Strengthen  the  legal  and  supervisory  framework  for  the  banking and  insurance  sectors,  including 

the establishment of independent and properly-staffed supervisory authorities. 

Free movement of capital 

–  Improve the prudential monitoring of the financial sector.  

–  Take further measures to reduce the use of cash in the economy. 

Customs and taxation 

–  Further align customs legislation and procedures with the EU acquis, in particular ensure that rules 
and  procedures  for  transit,  customs  warehouses,  customs  valuation,  physical  controls  and  risk 
analysis are aligned with EU standards and, where relevant, international conventions. 

–  Fully implement the ASYCUDA customs declaration and processing system in all customs offices. 

–  Take all necessary steps to properly implement rules of origin. 

–  Further approximate tax legislation with the EU acquis and commit to the principles of the Code of 
Conduct for Business Taxation, ensuring that new tax measures also conform to these principles. 

–  Complete the process of computerising tax offices. 

Competition  

–  Improve existing competition legislation to reinforce competition control. 

–  Reinforce the budget and staffing of the Competition Authority. 

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–  Adopt implementing legislation on state aid. 

–  Establish an operationally independent State Aid Authority. 

–  Ensure progress towards the completion of a comprehensive state aid inventory. 

Public procurement 

–  Enforce current public procurement legislation and take steps to bring it up to EU standards. 

–  Ensure strict implementation of tendering procedures. 

–  Strengthen the Public Procurement Agency as well as public procurement entities in line ministries. 

–  Ensure the investigation and criminal prosecution of procurement-related offences. 

Intellectual property law 

–  Strengthen  the  administrative  capacity  for  IPR  protection,  including  the  establishment  of  the 

Albanian Office for Copyright. 

–  Adopt new legislation on industrial property. 

–  Further  increase  awareness  of  IPR  issues  amongst  the  business  community  and  law  enforcement 

bodies, including the judiciary. 

–  Intensify enforcement against piracy and counterfeiting. 

SECTORAL POLICIES 

Industry and SME 

–  Improve  the  financial  sustainability  of  the  SME  Agency  and  implement  the  national  training 

programme for SMEs. 

–  Implement the European Charter for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. 

–  Implement  the  Action  Plan  for  the  Removal  of  Administrative  Barriers  to  Investment  and  ensure 
proper, non-discretionary, non-discriminatory implementation of business-related legislation, rules 
and procedures. 

–  Make company registration cheaper, easier and possible throughout the country. 

–  Improve procedures for obtaining licenses, permits and certificates. 

–  Reform the pre-paid tax system to make it less unfavourable for start-up companies. 

–  Implement the April 2005 action plan to address the informal economy. 

–  Set up procedures to assess the business impact of planned regulatory measures. 

–  Adopt improved commercial legislation. 

–  Ensure  effective  launch  of  the  loan  guarantee  fund  and  ensure  professional  and  independent 

management of the scheme. 

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–  Adopt the e-signature law 

Agriculture and fisheries 

–  Strengthen the food safety system and related control systems. 

–  Clarify competences and reinforce staffing in the veterinary service. 

–  Upgrade the laboratories of the Veterinary Research Institute.  

–  Improve phyto-sanitary and veterinary conditions in compliance with EC requirements, particularly 

for products with a strong export potential. 

–  Step up efforts in aligning the legislation with the EU veterinary and phytosanitary acquis and align 

the system of animal identification and registration for bovines with EU requirements. 

–  Reinforce  the  collection  and  processing  of  agricultural  statistics  in  line  with  EU  standards  and 

methodology. 

Environment 

–  Strengthen administrative capacity and co-ordination at national and local level. 

–  Implement legislation on environmental impact assessment. 

–  Adopt  a  strategy  to  further  align  environmental  legislation  with  the  EU  acquis,  and  properly 

implement existing legislation, especially as regards enforcement.  

–  Take action on the environmental hot-spots at Sharra solid waste landfill and the Patos-Marinez oil 

extraction area. 

–  Further develop and implement the National Water and Sanitation Strategy and the Rural Strategy 
for  Water  Supply  and  Sewerage  and  develop  and  start  implementing  a  strategy  for  progressive 
alignment to the acquis in the area of water supply and sanitation. 

–  Implement international conventions to which Albania is party in the field of nature protection. 

Transport policy 

–  Implement  the  National  Transport  Plan  including  the  planning  and  budgeting  of  transport  asset 

maintenance. 

–  Implement  the  road  safety  programme,  and  improve  road  safety  conditions  by  starting  to  align 
Albanian legislation with the EU acquis on weights and dimensions, roadworthiness tests, technical 
roadside inspections, driver licences and vehicle registration documents.  

–  Take measures to prevent illegal construction along new roads and take measures to prevent unsafe 

access to national roads. 

–  Begin the necessary reform of the railway sector. 

–  Apply public procurement procedures systematically to large investments. 

–  Ensure  that  the  Air  Code  is  amended  to  be  in  line  with  the  EU  acquis  in  view  of  the  European 

Common Aviation Area (ECAA). 

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–  Improve the maritime safety conditions, particularly the detention rate of Albanian ships under the 

Paris MoU. 

Energy 

–  Continue  to  implement  the  revised  Action  Plan  for  the  Implementation  of  the  National  Energy 

Strategy. 

–  Start  implementingimplementing  the  commitments  undertaken  in  the  framework  ofof  the  Energy 

Community Treaty. 

Information Society and Media 

–  Ensure that electronic communications legislation takes account of EC directives and is enforced.  

–  Strengthen  the  role  and  capacity  of  the  Telecommunications  Regulatory  Entity,  ensure  its 

independence, and establish an improved appeals system. 

–  Take  measures  to  achieve  a  competitive  market  for  electronic  communications  networks  and 

services.  

–  Start the process of alignment with the European Convention on Transfrontier Television and the 

Television without Frontiers Directive. 

–  Reinforce the administrative capacity of the National Council on Radio and Television and finalise 

the National Plan for Radio and Television. 

Financial control 

–  Further  develop  the  Public  Internal  and  Financial  Control  policy  paper  and  clearly  define  the 

inspection function, separate from other control and internal audit functions. 

–  Strengthen the operational capacity of the Supreme Audit Institution and ensure its functional and 

financial independence.  

JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY 

Visa, border control, asylum and migration 

–  Issue  travel  documents  in  accordance  with  international  standards  and  establish  a  centralised  IT 

network for the administration of visas. 

–  Adopt amendments to the Law on Foreigners to bring visa legislation closer to EU standards. 

–  Implement  Albania’s  Ohrid  commitments  on  border  security  and  management,  in  particular 

establishing an Integrated Border Management Strategy in accordance with EU guidelines. 

–  Focus  increased  financial  and  human  resources  on  addressing  human  trafficking  and  illegal 

migration. 

–  Ensure  that  border  management  at  Tirana  International  Airport,  and  at  Durres  and  Vlora  ports 

complies with international standards. 

–  Foster inter-agency cooperation at the border between customs and the border police. 

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–  Ensure  signature  of  and  alignment  with  the  1977  European  Convention  on  the  Legal  status  of 

Migrant Workers. 

–  Implement the EC/Albania readmission agreement and negotiate readmission agreements with the 

countries of origin of transiting migrants. 

–  Focus sufficient administrative and financial capacity on implementing legislation on asylum and 

migration and in particular implementing the related national strategies and action plans. 

Money laundering 

–  Take  urgent  measures  for  better  enforcement  of  anti-money  laundering  legislation  in  terms  of 

convictions, confiscations, seizures and the freezing of assets. 

–  Enhance  the  capacity  of  the  Financial  Intelligence  Unit  (FIU),  the  prosecutor’s  offices  and  the 
police Economic Crimes Unit by ensuring the provision of appropriate financial and IT resources 
and improving working-level co-operation. 

–  Ensure the EU compliance of the current Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering. 

–  Further  improve  co-operation  with  the  authorities  of  other  countries,  in  particular  by  using  the 

Regional Financial Intelligence Network more actively.  

–  Ensure proper enforcement of reporting obligations and examine transaction reporting thresholds. 

Drugs 

–  Implement the National Anti-Drug Strategy and the related action plan. 

–  Improve the training, equipment and continuity of management of police officers involved in the 

fight against drugs. 

–  Identify and prosecute those responsible for corruption related to the drugs trade at all levels in the 

public administration. 

–  Take steps to ensure better co-ordination both domestically and with partners in other countries in 

the fight against drugs. 

–  Ensure  greater  transparency  in  seizure  figures,  and  take  measures  to  dispose  properly  of  drugs 

seized in old cases. 

Police 

–  Ensure the full implementation of the law on ranks. 

–  Further improve the management of the Albanian State Police and ensure it is able to manage its 

resources independently. 

–  Strengthen  the  police  internal  affairs  unit  and  ensure  proper  prosecution  of  police  officers  for 

criminal offences. 

–  Accelerate efforts to reach an agreement with Europol. 

–  Establish a consolidated manual of procedures for all criminal police officers. 

–  Strengthen community policing. 

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Fighting organised crime and terrorism 

–  Define  more  precisely  the  respective  responsibilities  of  the  various  state  bodies  involved  in  the 
fight  against  organised  crime  and  terrorism,  and  take  measures  to  enhance  co-operation,  in 
particular between the judicial authorities and the police. 

–  Take further measures to establish coherent and coordinated intelligence gathering and processing 

systems. 

–  Enhance the use of special investigative means, the interception of telecommunications, and the use 

of intelligence information. 

–  Urgently put in place concrete measures to guarantee witness protection. 

–  Take  measures  to  provide  counter-terrorist  analysts  and  investigators  with  better  equipment  and 

training. 

–  Take further steps to bring security at Tirana airport up to international standards. 

3.2.  Medium-Term Priorities 

Political Requirements 

DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW 

Elections 

–  Take early action in preparation for the next parliamentary elections. 

Public administration 

–  Ensure that the sectors of the administration responsible for the implementation of SAA provisions, 
as well as those involved in the implementation of EC financial assistance, are adequately trained 
and equipped to carry out their duties. 

–  Introduce results-oriented management and training for civil servants. 

–  Design and implement a civil service salary structure which allows both proper budgetary planning 

and a motivating career structure. 

Judicial system 

–  Ensure prosecution of serious crimes, especially organised crime, with particular attention to cross-

border co-operation mechanisms. 

–  Ensure  continued  and  appropriate  training  of  judges  and  prosecutors,  including  in  human  rights, 

ethics and commercial matters and SAA-related issues. 

–  Review  the  role  and  qualifications  of  judicial  administrators,  and  progressively  incorporate  them 

into the civil service, ensuring pay parity with ministry staff. 

–  Ensure the financial sustainability of the Magistrates' School. 

–  Enforce legislation on witness protection. 

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Anti-corruption policy 

–  Implement European Conventions on Corruption in criminal and civil matters ratified by Albania 

as well as the relevant UN Conventions. 

–  Achieve  significant  results  in  the  fight  against  corruption,  at  all  levels  and  in  all  fields,  through 

enforcement of adequate legislation. 

HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE PROTECTION OF MINORITIES 

Observance of international human rights law 

–  Ensure  that  detainees  and  prisoners  on  remand  are  treated  in  accordance  with  international 

standards. 

–  Guarantee  that  human  dignity  and  personal  safety  is  respected  in  detention  centres,  prisons  and 

mental institutions, in accordance with international conventions. 

Civil and political rights 

–  Improve the juvenile justice system. 

–  Ensure  compliance  with  the  Council  of  Europe  Convention  for  the  Prevention  of  Torture  and 

Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment.  

–  Enforce  legislation  on  restitution/compensation  of  properties  confiscated  during  the  communist 

period. 

–  Complete the process of land registration. 

–  Ensure that transfers of property are carried out in accordance with the law, and ensure the proper 

functioning of all bodies involved in the process (notaries, property register, etc).  

Freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly  

–  Enforce new legislation for printed and electronic media taking into account EU standards. 

–  Ensure  that  TV  frequency  allocation  is  carried  out  in  a  fair  and  non-discriminatory  manner,  in 

accordance with the National Plan, and that requirements are fully respected by broadcasters. 

–  Improve the neutrality of the state television company. 

–  Encourage continued improvement of the quality of journalism. 

–  Encourage the active participation of NGOs and other civil society organisations in the government 

decision-making process. 

REGIONAL ISSUES 

–  Promote regional dialogue, stability, good neighbourliness and co-operation. 

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Economic Requirements 

–  Maintain  sustainable  macroeconomic  policies,  continuing  with 

fiscal  adjustments  and 
consolidation,  and,  in  particular,  enhancing  the  sustainability  of the  trade/current  account  deficits 
by enhancing export competitiveness. 

–  Continue with a prudent monetary and exchange rate policy stance. 

–  Further strengthen external audit, financial control management and internal audit. 

–  Establish  effective  procedures  for  the  detection,  treatment  and  follow-up  of  cases  of  (suspected) 

fraud and other irregularities affecting national and international funds. 

–  Continue privatisation, in particular in the financial and energy sectors. 

–  Ensure that provisions in relation to land classification and the use of land are respected. 

–  Develop and adopt legislation for the taxation of land and real estate. 

European Standards 

INTERNAL MARKET 

Free movement of goods 

–  Ensure administrative capacity to implement SAA requirements in this area. 

–  Make  further  progress  in  adopting  European  standards  and  speed  up  efforts  to  become  a  full 

member of the European standardisation bodies CEN, CENELEC and ETSI. 

–  Progress in transposing New and Global Approach and Old Approach directives. 

–  Fully establish a market surveillance system required by the acquis on free movement of goods. 

–  Ensure improved functioning, taking into account EC best practices, of the bodies responsible for 
standardisation,  accreditation  and  certification  as  well  as  those  responsible  for  metrology  and 
calibration. 

–  Ensure Albania’s membership of the European Co-operation for Accreditation (EA). 

Movement of persons, services and right of establishment 

–  Ensure that the implementation of legislation on the right of establishment is conducted fairly and 

impartially. 

Free movement of capital 

–  Ensure  progress  on  the  full  liberalisation  of  the  movement  of  capital  in  order  to  be  able  to  fulfil 

Albania’s 2010 WTO deadline. 

Customs and taxation 

–  Ensure the continued approximation of Albanian customs and taxation legislation to the EU acquis, 
and  further  increase  administrative  capacity  to  implement  customs  legislation,  and  to  fight 
corruption, cross-border crime and fiscal evasion. 

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–  Improve  transparency  and  the  exchange  of  information  with  EU  Member  States  in  order  to 

facilitate the enforcement of measures to prevent the avoidance or evasion of taxes. 

Competition 

–  Enforce competition legislation consistently regarding both antitrust and State aid. 

Public procurement 

–  Ensure the alignment of Albania’s legal framework with the EU acquis. 

–  Achieve  fully  operational  public  procurement  structures,  ensuring  strict  operation  of  public 

procurement procedures in compliance with the law and with SAA requirements. 

Intellectual property law 

–  Fully  implement  international  conventions  ratified  in  the  field  of  intellectual,  commercial  and 

industrial property rights. 

–  Ensure proper implementation of IPR, and achieve improved results in the fight against piracy and 

counterfeiting. 

–  Guarantee sufficient administrative capacity to comply with SAA requirements in this area. 

–  Establish regional copyright offices. 

Statistics 

–  Develop  business  and  social  statistics,  including  labour  market  statistics,  and  make  progress 
towards  implementing  all  European  classifications,  including  the  classification  of  statistical 
regions. 

SECTORAL POLICIES 

Industry and SME 

–  Enforce improved commercial legislation. 

–  Ensure that judges are well trained in commercial and corporate legislation. 

–  Ensure  that  the  strategy  to  combat  the  informal  economy  keeps  pace  with  developments  in  the 

sector. 

–  Further develop specialised business support structures (e.g. incubators and clusters) and examine 

feasibility for a business/technology park. 

–  Start designing and applying an integrated research policy and further develop measures to boost 

innovation and competitiveness of small companies. 

–  Introduce  disclosure  and  financial  reporting  standards  in  line  with  EU  standards  and  ensure  their 

effective enforcement. 

Agriculture and fisheries 

–  Take measures to ensure that Albanian fisheries policy moves closer to EU standards, in particular 
in the areas of resource management, inspection and control and in market and structural policies. 

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–  Develop  strategies  for  land  use,  the  land  market,  rural  development,  diversification  of  farm 

activities and enhancing agricultural competitiveness. 

–  Achieve  substantial  improvements  in  terms  of  food  safety  and  phyto-sanitary  and  veterinary 

conditions, in compliance with EC requirements. 

–  Prepare a programme for upgrading food processing establishments to meet EU requirements. 

–  Start action with a view to identifying sheep and goats and registration of their movements. 

–  Start action with a view to ensuring an efficient control of domestic plant production in particular 
for  products  with  EU  specific  requirements  and  set  up  analytical  capacity  in  the  phytosanitary 
sector. 

Environment 

–  Continue efforts to address toxic hotspots. 

–  Reduce pollution produced by the Balsh refinery, including discharges into the Gjanica River, and 

take measures to tackle water pollution in general. 

–  Strengthen environmental monitoring and ensure sufficiently dissuasive sanctions against polluters. 

–  Continue to implement regional and international environmental commitments. 

Transport policy 

–  Continue implementation of the Albania Transport Master Plan, including efforts to complete the 

East-West corridor and North-South axis. 

–  Complete the necessary institutional reforms to improve transport asset management, prioritisation 

of investments, policy making and the involvement of the private sector. 

–  Make  substantial  progress  on  the  rehabilitation  of  the  ports  of  Durres  and  Vlora  and  consolidate 

port operations there. 

–  Achieve  improved  results  in  terms  of  road  safety,  and  take  additional  steps  for  further 

improvement. 

–  Implement  the  Memorandum  of  Understanding  of  the  South  East  Europe  (SEE)  Core  Regional 

Transport Network including the Transport Observatory (SEETO).  

Energy 

–  Continue to ensure the proper implementation of Action Plans in relation to the electricity sector, 

and further progress with the implementation of the Albanian Energy Strategy. 

–  Ensure  timely  implementation  of  the  various  projects  aimed  at  improving  the  infrastructure  for 

electricity production, transmission and distribution. 

–  Continue to implement regional and international commitments in the energy field with a view to 

establishing a competitive regional energy market. 

Information Society and Media 

–  Further transpose and implement the EU framework for electronic communications. 

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–  Continue the process of alignment with the European Convention on Transfrontier Television and 

the Television Without Frontiers Directive. 

Financial control 

–  Develop and implement the principles of decentralised managerial accountability and functionally 

independent internal audit according to international standards and EU best practice. 

–  Develop  procedures  and  administrative  capacities  to  ensure  effective  protection  of  EU  financial 

interests. 

JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY 

Visa, border control, asylum and migration 

–  Ensure full compliance of all Albanian travel documents with international standards. 

–  Implement  the  Integrated  Border  Management  Strategy  and  all  international  commitments 

undertaken by Albania in the area of border management. 

–  Ensure  that  border  management  at  Tirana  International  Airport,  and  at  Durres  and  Vlora  ports 

complies with international standards. 

–  Enforce asylum-related legislation and establish a fully-fledged asylum system, in compliance with 

international standards. 

–  Implement Albania’s National Strategy on Migration and National Action Plan on Asylum. 

–  Ensure  that  Albania  is  in  a  position  to  meet  SAA  requirements  regarding  EC  citizens  working 

and/or residing in Albania. 

–  Negotiate readmission agreements with all countries of the region and with the countries of origin 

of migrants transiting through Albania. 

–  Progressively conclude, ratify and implement all the main international conventions in the field of 

migration. 

Money laundering 

–  Reinforce  the  fight  against  economic  and  financial  crime,  including  money-laundering  and 

counterfeiting of currencies. 

–  Establish an inter-ministerial agency for the purpose of seizing proceeds of crime. 

–  Achieve  tangible  results  in  the  fight  against  money  laundering,  both  within  and  outside  the 

financial sector. 

Drugs 

–  Further implement the National Anti-Drug Strategy and the related action plan. 

–  Ensure  substantially  improved  results  in  the  fight  against  drug  trafficking,  especially  as  regards 

synthetic drugs, heroin and cocaine. 

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Police 

–  Continue to bring police services up to European standards, most notably through adequate training 

and equipment. 

–  Ensure the functioning of a proper case management system. 

–  Achieve  significant  results  in  the  fight  against  criminality,  and  in  fighting  corruption  and  other 

criminal behaviour within police ranks. 

Fighting organised crime and terrorism 

–  Further increase international co-operation in the fight against organised crime and terrorism. 

–  Achieve significant results in the rate, number and  quality of prosecutions in relation to offences 
connected with organised crime and trafficking, as well as in terms of the seizure of the proceeds of 
crime. 

–  Fully  incorporate  the  international  conventions  and  protocols  on  the  prevention  of  terrorism  to 

which Albania is party into domestic legislation, and implement them. 

4. 

PROGRAMMING 

Community  assistance  under  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Process  to  the  Western  Balkan 
countries will be provided under the existing financial instruments, in particular by Council Regulation 
(EC) No 2666/20004. Accordingly, this Decision will have no financial implications. Albania can have 
access to funding from multi-country and horizontal programmes. 

5. 

CONDITIONALITY 

Community  assistance  under  the  Stabilisation  and  Association  Process  to  the  Western  Balkan 
countries is conditional on further progress in satisfying the Copenhagen criteria as well as progress in 
meeting the specific priorities of this European Partnership. Failure to respect these conditions could 
lead the Council to take appropriate measures on the basis of Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 
2666/20005. Community assistance shall also be subject to the conditions defined by the Council in its 
Conclusions of 29 April 1997, and 21-22 June 1999 in particular as regards the recipients’ undertaking 
to carry out democratic, economic and institutional reforms. 

4 
5 

OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1. 
Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000: 
"1. Respect for the principles of democracy and the rule of law and for human and minority rights and 
fundamental freedoms is an essential element for the application of this Regulation and a precondition 
of  eligibility  for  Community  assistance.  If  these  principles  are  not  respected,  the  Council,  acting  by 
qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, may take appropriate measures.  
2.Community  assistance  shall  also  be  subject  to  the  conditions  defined  by  the  Council  in  its 
Conclusions  of  29  April  1997,  in  particular  as  regards  the  recipients'  undertaking  to  carry  out 
democratic, economic and institutional reforms." 

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6. 

MONITORING 

The  implementation  of  the  European  Partnership  shall  be  examined  through  the  framework  of  the 
mechanisms established under the Stabilisation and Association Process notably the annual Progress 
Reports presented by the Commission. 

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