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The negotiating delegations from Albania and North Macedonia started today the process of examining the legislation, the so-called “screening” with the European Commission. Michaela Matuella, the director for the Western Balkans at the European Commission has stated that this process involves hundreds of experts from the European executive and the two respective countries and will be very intensive. The first chapter of the examination is that of public procurement (5), which is part of the group of basic issues.
“The key issue that we are considering today during the examination of public procurements is how governments use public funds to best serve the interests of citizens, so that they are used honestly and transparently? ” said Michaela Matuella, explaining that “screening” is not only a technical process, but directly serves the interests of the citizens of both countries. Elaborating further, Matuella has explained that the process of examining the legislation (screening) is also important for businesses, civil society, and society to familiarize themselves with European legislation, as it includes concrete issues that affect their daily lives.
The focus of today’s meeting is the explanation of the advancement of European legislation on public procurement and the current compliance of the two countries with European standards. In the following, during the bilateral “screening”, the countries explain what their progress is in both areas.
Minister of State Majlinda Duka, who is the chief negotiator for Albania, has stated that the opening of negotiations for Albania is a historic moment and that Albania is ready to start negotiations.
“Membership negotiations are important for nation-building, knowledge transfer, modernization of our systems, including public procurement. Albania has made a lot of progress regarding public procurement, it is at the top of the countries of the Western Balkans, according to the Sigma report. Most of the directives have been aligned with European legislation, systems have been modernized, work efficiency has increased, capacities have been developed, but they still need to be significantly strengthened”.
The public procurement chapter is part of a group of chapters that includes fundamental issues (23), justice, freedom and security (24), statistics (18) and financial control (22). This group of chapters is opened first and closed last during the membership negotiation process.
/abcnews.al
