EU, criticism of the government/ "Review the law on strategic investors"

2024-09-28 11:59:31, Aktualitet CNA

EU, criticism of the government/ "Review the law on strategic

Silvio Gonzato, EU Ambassador to Albania

Albania must overcome several major obstacles before becoming part of the European Union, especially corruption and organized crime. In a meeting in Tirana with European journalists who cover EU affairs, Ambassador Silvio Gonzato paid special attention to the reform in justice. One of the topics he emphasized was the issue of property rights in the country.

"The legal framework of investments in Albania must be aligned with EU standards, it must be fair and equal, also for foreign investors. The so-called "strategic investment law" gives preferential status to those who are considered strategic investors , who then benefit from land under very preferential conditions or sometimes even at a very low price, below the market price. The whole process that leads to the selection of strategic investors is somewhat non-transparent, especially in the south of the country," said Gonzato.

SPAK

The law of strategic investments is one of the most debatable laws in Albania. Among the investigated cases is that of the strategic investor Artan Gaçi, the husband of the MP and at the same time the former Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka. Gaçi, also a former socialist deputy, was declared a strategic investor by the government for the construction of a tourist complex in Himare, worth around 5.5 million euros.

Reforms, necessary

The European Union is one of the biggest investors in the justice reform in Albania. Speaking about the priorities leading to membership, Ambassador Gonzato also focused on the results of SPAK, a structure he described as similar to the Italian "Anti-mafia".

"The reform of 2016 has begun to bear its fruits, but at the same time it has created tensions between the parties, as the opposition considers SPAK as one-sided and as a tool in the hands of the government that is used to silence the opposition" .

According to Gonzatos, this leads to increased polarization of the political situation in the country.

EU, criticism of the government/ "Review the law on strategic

Speaking about the reforms as a whole that the country is going through, Ambassador Gonzato pointed out the improvements that are happening in a very short time, despite the "non-linear but zigzag trajectory".

"There are interest groups that have no interest in seeing the reforms undertaken within the framework of the country's membership, which are progressing very quickly. That is why we are here in Tirana, and together with Brussels we keep these zigzags within the borders".

"Albania has no plan B"

The EU delegation in Albania is very optimistic when it comes to the remaining path for the country, until the final opening of the door of the Union. Gonzato said that "Albania has no plan B, and the Euro-Atlantic route is the only one that Albanians have chosen".

His statement came two days after Albania officially split from North Macedonia on its way to the EU. Gonzato declared to journalists that the country has the necessary capacity to join Montenegro in the membership queue.

On October 15, the European Union and Albania will hold the second Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg to discuss the "first group of chapters"./ DW