Albanian analysts comment on Brexit

On 24 June 2016 Mr. Gledis Gjipali, the Executive Director of EMA, was interviewed by “VOA” concerning the impact of Brexit in the region. According to Mr. Gjipali Britain was a major supporter of EU enlargement with the countries of Southeast Europe and Turkey, so Britain leaving the EU will directly affect the expansion plans. Exit negotiations take place for the first time. There is no EU experience on how negotiations take place for a country leaving the EU. There will be a minimum period of at least two years. The complexity of the negotiations will attract all the main energy of the European Commission and member states. They will have less attention for expansion, less attention to Albania and the Western Balkans problems. The reasons why the UK decided to leave have to do with the risks that comes from manual labor, and the migration of citizens from the new members of the EU. It is also about the fact that it was one of the largest financial contributors of the EU. The reasons why Western Balkan countries aim to join the EU have to do with the strengthening of the economic, social and democratic state, dealing with the implementation of legislation and the rule of law , processes that are very important for Albania and the Balkans , but Britain has overcome centuries ago.

Albanian analysts comment on Brexit