Germany urges Albania on judicial reform, key to EU step

TIRANA/ AP

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called on the Albanian political forces to pass a judicial reform package, considered fundamental to convince the European Union launch membership negotiations.
Steinmeier, who is to visit Tirana on Tuesday, was quoted by the Albanian Mapo daily newspaper as calling on all political forces “to take over overall state responsibility and approve the reform at the parliament without delay.”
Despite disapproval from the opposition Democratic Party, the United States and the European Union have called on Albania to complete the passage of the judicial reform, key to fighting corruption at all levels, especially in the judiciary.