Albanians Must Confront Euro Reality

Albania's leaders are facing a tough task to convince the public that membership of the European Union will not immediately lead to freedom of movement across the region.

The country's politicians have begun preliminary negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, SAA, a first step on the long journey toward EU membership, and will now have to press ahead with the reforms necessary for full integration.

EU and Albanian delegates are scheduled to meet in Tirana on February 13 for further talks, which are expected to include controversial plans for a free-trade zone in the Balkans, prior to Tirana negotiating a similar agreement with the union itself.

However, there is a very real danger that the country will fall at this first hurdle if it cannot convince its people that there is far more to EU membership than just being able to travel freely through Europe.

Speaking after the launch of the SAA talks on January 31, deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ilir Meta acknowledged "a great body of public opinion simplistically associates the agreement with freedom of movement".

And an ill-informed public is more likely to reject EU plans for Albania to implement a trade liberalisation agreement with its Balkan neighbours - which is already being opposed by the country's businessmen who fear cheaper imports will destroy them.

Other issues on the integration agenda include the use of foreign aid to tackle corruption, improvements in the judiciary and public administration, and the fight against organised crime and trafficking.

Speaking to his Socialist colleagues after the start of the SAA talks, Prime Minister Fatos Nano highlighted the government's priorities, "We know full well that integration will only be achieved through new, continuous efforts to push through reforms. We need to do away with the realities of an informal economy, corruption, trafficking and criminal networks."

However, while these words are clearly what Brussels wants to hear, they do not address the concerns of the electorate. As Albanians watch their country edging towards western Europe, the most emotive issue by far is that of freedom of movement.

As one of Europe's poorest states, Albania exports a steady stream of economic migrants to the continent's more developed countries. Most travel illegally, crossing at great risk into Greece, Italy and beyond. Visa requirements for Albanians wishing to travel abroad are invariably harsh and are designed to deter all but the most resourceful applicants.

Ordinary Albanians, therefore, would welcome a relaxation of the humiliating restrictions on their movement abroad. They argue that such a move would also automatically reduce their reliance on the people-trafficking syndicates that the EU is so keen to eliminate.

On the day that the SAA negotiations were launched, the media was quick to question the government on the issue of relaxing travel restrictions. While European Commission president Romano Prodi was optimistic that Albanians would one day win the right to move around Europe freely, Nano took the opportunity to clarify that this could only be a feature of integration, rather than its objective.

Analysts believe that the government and the opposition must campaign to educate Albanians about the true price - as well as the genuine rewards - of entering Europe.

Otherwise there is a risk that politicians might be tempted to sweeten the bitter pill of reform by promising people restriction-free travel sooner than it can be realistically attained. "I would not like to create the illusion that freedom of movement will be secured in the very near future, but let's say we give it a few years," Meta told the media after the launch.

In spite of these potential difficulties, the start of the SAA negotiations has been hailed as a milestone for the post-communist nation. Prodi described it as "the beginning of a new phase, not only in Albania's history, but in the history of the EU as well".

Nano echoed Prodi's sentiments, saying, "This is a day of extraordinary historic importance for [us]."

While Nano reiterated his ambition to sign the SAA before his term ends in 2005, this seems an unrealistic ambition in the current political climate. The grounds on which the EU agreed to commence SAA negotiations with Albania last October are already looking shaky.

As a primary condition for getting Brussels to acknowledge Tirana's integration ambitions, the two main political groups in the country stuck an informal deal last year, aimed at bringing an end to the incessant squabbles that have long hindered their progress. That pact does not exist anymore.

However, the opposition Democratic Party, led by Sali Berisha, has channelled its criticism through parliamentary committees rather than resorting to street protests.

Similarly, Nano has so far refrained from directly attacking the opposition and has stressed that the integration process must involve everyone in the country.

Edmond Harizaj is an editor with the Albanian newspaper Koha Jone.