EU integration / Kthupi: We have no problem writing laws, but reaching the standards

The progress of the European integration process and the messages conveyed during the official visit of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, were at the center of discussions on the “Trialog” program on RTSH, moderated by journalist Alba Alishani. The analysis panel dwelt on the difference between formally meeting the legal framework and implementing it in practice.

During the program, lawyer Rezart Kthupi stressed that the country has made progress in aligning its legislation with the acquis communautaire, but underlined that this does not necessarily constitute an essential novelty in the everyday life of institutions.

In his analysis, Kthupi pointed out that Albania’s ability to draft and approve laws according to the European Union’s requirements has never been lacking, while the main sticking point remains achieving the real standards required by the union.

Regarding this gap between writing laws and implementing them, he said that “we have never had the problem of writing laws, despite the problems we may also have in this sector.”

“We have always been able to produce laws, we have been able to produce also the laws to move closer to the European Union. What is the problem we have is the problem of standards, regardless of the law… If we talk about writing laws, yes, we are moving with very good steps. If we talk about achieving those standards we need to integrate into the European Union, that is then a separate discussion,” he said.

The jurist then dwelt on the diplomatic language used by the European Union’s senior leaders during official visits, analyzing the way the European Commission assesses Albania’s progress.

According to him, von der Leyen’s approach is based mainly on the visible progress at the bureaucratic and legislative level.

“If you look at Ms. Von der Leyen’s conference, what she emphasizes is always the qualitative steps we take in writing. But she never comments on the real actions that happen in Albania, or she tries to always look at the glass from its full half. This is her political viewpoint and Ms. Von der Leyen has her right to see it as it is,” Kthupi said.