Tirana, December 23, 2022 – The Child Rights Centre Albania (CRCA/ECPAT Albania) opened this morning the series of consultations of civil society and public institutions on the approximation of Albania’s legislation and standards to the European Union on child and youth rights.
In the first round of discussions that was held this morning at the Tirana International Hotel, under the title: “Albania and European integration: Where are the rights of children and young people”, the speakers and the guests discussed the new negotiation methodology, the steps followed so far and the role that civil society can play during the negotiations process.
An essential part of EU legislation (Acquis) deals with the rights of children and young people. In November of this year, the Albanian institutions reported during the screening process on Chapters 23-24 regarding the main developments in this area.
During the consultation, the representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection informed all the participants on the screening process and what is expected to happen in the next few months. The experts of CRCA/ECPAT Albania in their presentations focused on the main aspects of the Acquis for children and youth, as well as the opportunities presented to civil society to be an active part of this process.
“We are happy that CRCA/ECPAT Albania is leading the process of CSOs consultations, to inform and engage the civil society in this very important process. We cannot have EU integration without guaranteeing the rights of children and young people, to the highest standards of the European Union.” – said Altin Hazizaj, Director of CRCA/ECPAT Albania.
On 19 July 2022, the intergovernmental meeting opened the formal negotiation process for Albania’s membership to the European Union. During these months, the parties have engaged in the screening process, where the Albanian and EU institutions inform each other regarding the latest updates of Acquis, Albania’s legislation compatibility with Acquis etc. At the end of this process, which is expected to happen by April next year, Albania should be able to identify the efforts that will be needed to negotiate all 35 chapters of Acquis and meet all legal, political, economic, and administrative requirements for EU membership. Based on the new negotiations’ methodology, EU will set important benchmarks that Albania needs to achieve before it can open or close one or more chapters on Acquis.
Albania’s negotiation process with the EU does not relate only to the Government, but it is an essential legal, social, and administrative exercise of reforms for improvement. In this regard the role of CSO’s takes an exceptional value. In this context, CRCA/ECPAT Albania has initiated a broad process of CSO’s consultations, information, and engagement, regarding the preparation of Albania in the negotiation process with the EU, with the aim of strengthening the implementation of all EU laws and standards for children and young people.