EU integration, Ben Andoni: Von der Leyen’s visit was good news, the challenge begins with implementing the laws

Analyst Ben Andoni has described European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Albania as good news for the integration process, while stressing that the country’s main challenge begins with implementing European laws and standards.

According to Andoni, Albania has made progress in aligning its legislation with that of the European Union, but implementation in practice remains a problem.

“Here she set out at least the achievements, showed that we are doing well at least with adoption, but left us some very difficult tasks for implementation. Albania’s implementation of the laws leaves an extraordinary amount to be desired, standards and the rest. Those two chapters that were closed — we showed that adoption can be done, but those standards that we suffer every day are very painful. Because scientific research in Albania is at very, very low levels,” he said.

Andoni also stressed the importance of benefiting from European funds and assessed that Albania has taken steps in this direction. Andoni considered Albania’s advance towards the EU positive, but stressed that what matters will be what happens after the statements and the closing of chapters.

“It is good news for Albania; the problem is a few months later, when implementation begins. We must not waste time,” he said.