U.S Ambassador to Albania, Ms. Yuri Kim, has once again called on the Justice Appointments Council (JAC) to conclude the evaluation and submit the list of candidates to the Presidency and Parliament, in order for the Constitutional Court to be functional by December.

“JAC should meet this week to conclude evaluation & send list of candidates to Presidency & Parliament. Processes must be respected, but not abused. There is no practical reason CC cannot be functional by 12/31. It is a matter of will. Leaders must show their true will,” wrote Ambassador Kim on Twitter.

EU Ambassador to Albania, Mr. Luigi Soreca, also emphasized the importance of the evaluation of candidates for open vacancies in the Constitutional Court, in accordance with the Venice Commission opinion.

“It is indeed critical that JAC concludes rapidly evaluation of candidates for open vacancies in the Constitutional Court, building upon the openings of the Venice Commission opinion. Ensuring Court’s full functionality is a key condition to launch the accession talks with the EU for Albania’s first IGC,” wrote Ambassador Soreca.

A functioning Constitutional Court is one of the conditions set by the EU in order to enable the first Intergovernmental Conference, which would be the official step to opening negotiations talks.

The criteria were outlined in the EU Council conclusions published earlier this year in March.

The first IGC, which was expected to be held on December for Albania and North Macedonia, under the German EU Presidency was recently postponed to the following year.

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No conclusions on enlargement for Albania and North Macedonia, EU postpones first IGC