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Albania: 'We don't want to be outside EU' | Albania: 'We don't want to be outside EU' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Cabinet minister and Leave campaigner Michael Gove has suggested Britain could prosper outside the EU by joining Balkan countries such as Albania in a European free-trade zone. However, Albania is keen to travel in precisely the opposite direction. | Cabinet minister and Leave campaigner Michael Gove has suggested Britain could prosper outside the EU by joining Balkan countries such as Albania in a European free-trade zone. However, Albania is keen to travel in precisely the opposite direction. |
In an effort finally to throw off its dark past, Albania is itself applying to join the EU - but it faces a long journey. | In an effort finally to throw off its dark past, Albania is itself applying to join the EU - but it faces a long journey. |
Free trade area v single market - what's the difference? | Free trade area v single market - what's the difference? |
Reality Check: Free trade free from regulation? | Reality Check: Free trade free from regulation? |
Country profile: Albania | Country profile: Albania |
UK's EU vote: All you need to know | UK's EU vote: All you need to know |
"There used to be soldiers with Kalashnikovs blocking the main road here," says Albanian journalist Aleksander Furxhi. "People knew they couldn't go in." | |
Mr Furxhi is pointing at the area known simply as The Block - for 40 years, a forbidden city inhabited only by the dictator Enver Hoxha, his family and other members of the ruling Communist elite. | Mr Furxhi is pointing at the area known simply as The Block - for 40 years, a forbidden city inhabited only by the dictator Enver Hoxha, his family and other members of the ruling Communist elite. |
Albania was one of the most sinister regimes to emerge from the chaos of World War Two. | Albania was one of the most sinister regimes to emerge from the chaos of World War Two. |
Under Hoxha, this small country in the western Balkans was almost entirely cut off from the outside world. | Under Hoxha, this small country in the western Balkans was almost entirely cut off from the outside world. |
Albania was often described as the North Korea of Europe. | Albania was often described as the North Korea of Europe. |
During 45 years of tyranny, more than 3.5 million Albanians were kept virtual prisoners. | During 45 years of tyranny, more than 3.5 million Albanians were kept virtual prisoners. |
More than 34,000 political prisoners were jailed, while nearly 60,000 others languished for decades in labour camps or died there. | More than 34,000 political prisoners were jailed, while nearly 60,000 others languished for decades in labour camps or died there. |
Torture was widespread, and 5,400 political prisoners were executed, often after sham trials. | Torture was widespread, and 5,400 political prisoners were executed, often after sham trials. |
Hoxha carried out frequent purges of the country's military and political leadership. | Hoxha carried out frequent purges of the country's military and political leadership. |
All forms of religion were banned. | All forms of religion were banned. |
Since the fall of the regime in 1991 and the coming of democracy, Albania has struggled to come to terms with that past. | Since the fall of the regime in 1991 and the coming of democracy, Albania has struggled to come to terms with that past. |
Corrupt politicians and even judges have stood in the way of integration with the rest of Europe. | Corrupt politicians and even judges have stood in the way of integration with the rest of Europe. |
Even a number of former Communists have managed to survive in power. | Even a number of former Communists have managed to survive in power. |
Albania sees membership of the European Union as the most powerful sign and symbol its decades of isolation are at an end. | Albania sees membership of the European Union as the most powerful sign and symbol its decades of isolation are at an end. |
Recent polls by the EU itself suggest more than 90% of Albanians want in - but it still has to overcome the ghosts of the past if it is ever to achieve its dream of EU membership. | Recent polls by the EU itself suggest more than 90% of Albanians want in - but it still has to overcome the ghosts of the past if it is ever to achieve its dream of EU membership. |
The most fervent advocates of EU entry are business people and farmers, because they currently suffer a huge trade imbalance. | The most fervent advocates of EU entry are business people and farmers, because they currently suffer a huge trade imbalance. |
Two-thirds of imports come from the EU - but Albania cannot export directly to the EU. | Two-thirds of imports come from the EU - but Albania cannot export directly to the EU. |
"If we could do that, it would have a huge impact on Albania - particularly our agricultural produce," says Nikolin Jaka, of the Tirana Chamber of Commerce and Industry. | "If we could do that, it would have a huge impact on Albania - particularly our agricultural produce," says Nikolin Jaka, of the Tirana Chamber of Commerce and Industry. |
In a recent speech, Mr Gove appeared to point to the trading advantages of Albania being outside the EU. | In a recent speech, Mr Gove appeared to point to the trading advantages of Albania being outside the EU. |
"Here is a free-trade zone stretching from Iceland to Turkey that all European nations have access to, regardless of whether they are in or out of the euro or EU," he said. | |
"After we vote to leave we will remain in the zone. The suggestion that Bosnia, Serbia, Albania and Ukraine would remain part of this free-trade area — and Britain would be on the outside with just Belarus — is as credible as Jean-Claude Juncker [President of the European Commission] joining Ukip." | "After we vote to leave we will remain in the zone. The suggestion that Bosnia, Serbia, Albania and Ukraine would remain part of this free-trade area — and Britain would be on the outside with just Belarus — is as credible as Jean-Claude Juncker [President of the European Commission] joining Ukip." |
Those comments have annoyed and amused Albania's political elite in equal measure. | |
The Socialist Mayor of the Albanian capital, Erion Veliaj, widely tipped as a future prime minister, tells me Europe could not compete with Russia for "hard power" planes and bombs. | The Socialist Mayor of the Albanian capital, Erion Veliaj, widely tipped as a future prime minister, tells me Europe could not compete with Russia for "hard power" planes and bombs. |
"It is the soft power which makes Europe what it is," he says. | "It is the soft power which makes Europe what it is," he says. |
"There are no advantages of being in a ghetto, and the western Balkans are a ghetto surrounded by the European Union. | "There are no advantages of being in a ghetto, and the western Balkans are a ghetto surrounded by the European Union. |
"To tell someone who is at the epicentre of European public life that it is much better to sit on the backbenches of Europe and of decision-making and sell this as a success story takes a lot of faith." | |
Albania is treating its application to join the EU so seriously it has established its own ministry to try to make it happen. | Albania is treating its application to join the EU so seriously it has established its own ministry to try to make it happen. |
The Ministry of European Integration is a honey-coloured pebbledash office block in central Tirana. | The Ministry of European Integration is a honey-coloured pebbledash office block in central Tirana. |
The EU's ambassador to Albania, Romana Vlahutin, says the incentive of EU membership is driving efforts to tackle the political and judicial corruption that remains an obstacle to Albania's future. | The EU's ambassador to Albania, Romana Vlahutin, says the incentive of EU membership is driving efforts to tackle the political and judicial corruption that remains an obstacle to Albania's future. |
"It is really a surgical cut into unhealthy tissue," she says. | "It is really a surgical cut into unhealthy tissue," she says. |
By 2020, the EU is budgeted to spend almost €650m (£500m) on Albania. | By 2020, the EU is budgeted to spend almost €650m (£500m) on Albania. |
Already, EU money has been spent on new roads, police stations and prisons. | Already, EU money has been spent on new roads, police stations and prisons. |
Other countries in the region, including Serbian, Kosovo and Macedonia, also hope to join the EU. | Other countries in the region, including Serbian, Kosovo and Macedonia, also hope to join the EU. |
Ms Vlahutin extols the "transformative power that the EU had on half of the European continent" and wants Albania to share in that success. | Ms Vlahutin extols the "transformative power that the EU had on half of the European continent" and wants Albania to share in that success. |
But with his journalistic scepticism, Alexander Furxhi says it will be another decade at least before Albania joins the EU, with new conditions imposed every year. | But with his journalistic scepticism, Alexander Furxhi says it will be another decade at least before Albania joins the EU, with new conditions imposed every year. |
"This is why people are a bit tired of the process," he says. | "This is why people are a bit tired of the process," he says. |
Albania's leaders remain optimistic. | Albania's leaders remain optimistic. |
The winds of change are coming to Albania, and the strongest is blowing from Brussels. | The winds of change are coming to Albania, and the strongest is blowing from Brussels. |
The country joined Nato in 2009, and acquired EU "candidate status" in 2014. | The country joined Nato in 2009, and acquired EU "candidate status" in 2014. |
Many Albanians believe only EU membership will finally help them exorcise the ghost of Enver Hoxha and the legacy of his terrible regime. | Many Albanians believe only EU membership will finally help them exorcise the ghost of Enver Hoxha and the legacy of his terrible regime. |