Concrete Steps of Albania Towards the Approximation of National Legislation with the Acquis Communautaire: Is it Considered that the Copenhagen Criteria in this Sector is Fulfilled?

Gledina Meçka ,Anton Bardhaj

doi:10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n3s1p293

Abstract

Laws are the foundations of a democratic state and their implementation becomes easier to serve to citizens if the state (in our case Albania) achieves the necessary drafting standards. Countries with the EU integration perspective should guarantee the fulfillment of these standards. In 1993, the European Council determined in its conclusions the Copenhagen Criteria. One of them is compliance with the EU acquis. This is a non-negotiable condition for membership, which means that national legislation should be harmonized with the right of the EU as a whole, before Albania joins EU. Being aware of this fact, as well as obligations under the SAA to align EU acquis, the Albanian Government has prepared a National Plan for European Integration as a long-term plan extended for the period from 2014 to 2020. It is a dynamic document that will evolve with passing the stages of the integration process. This article treats the EU primary legislation, secondary legislation, the jurisprudence of the European Justice Court, etc., also principles and methods of approach. The main purpose of this paper is to present the steps taken by Albanian Government in the process of harmonization of domestic legislation with the acquis. It is focused on national strategies, actions, trainings and evaluations of EU bodies. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n3s1p293

Highlights

In 1993, the European Council in its conclusions determined the Copenhagen Criteria
One of them is the compliance with the EU acquis
This is a non-negotiable condition for membership, which means that national legislation should be harmonized with the EU legislation, before Albania becomes a member state of the EU

Summary

Introduction

One of them is the compliance with the EU acquis. This is a non-negotiable condition for membership, which means that national legislation should be harmonized with the EU legislation, before Albania becomes a member state of the EU. There are presented the harmonization notion and its necessity, the procedures required, the deadlines, principles, methods and the harmonization levels. Our country has been involved in this procedure since the signing of the SAA with the EU in 2006. One of the main duties in order to receive the candidate status and after that to become a member of EU is exactly the translation of the acquis, its transposition into the domestic law, law amendments and new law adoption

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion