The meeting with the French ambassador in Albania, Mrs. Christine Moro, and students and professors of Shkodra University organised on March 19, 2014.

A meeting with the French ambassador in Albania, Mrs.  Christine Moro, and students and professors of Shkodra University was organised on March 19, 2014. This meeting took place at the conference room of the Rectorate of Shkodra University " Luigj Gurakuqi "

The activity was opened by the lecturer of journalism Mr. Ardi Hoti, who introduced the topic of the discussion which was related to the integration of Albania into the European Union.

The French ambassador Mrs. Christine Moro recalled her last meeting with students and professors of our university and expressed her satisfaction for the establishment of this regular dialogue. She said: "Albania is trying to obtain EU candidate status. The general elections were a test of maturity of your country and you passed this test successfully. I really congratulate you for this. In the same time your country must continue the fight against the organized crime, corruption and these things require a commitment not only of the state authorities but also the people themselves in order to obtain the status. I think that the Status should be deserved and you are the most educated and civil society which should contribute to the integration issues and encourage all actors involved in this process ".

Then the meeting continued with students´ questions which were focused on the deadline for candidate status, the negative impact that may have the Albanian asylum seekers in France; reforms undertaken by the government to the administration, the role of the opposition in the integration process; steps undertaken in Albania in the field of education, gender equality and living standards.

In response to these questions the French Ambassador Christine Moro said that in June she hoped to a positive response regarding to the status. She added: "The issue of integration depends on the policies of Albania. The assessment will depend on objective criteria. There were many delays in the past few years which related to the internal political issues. For us it is important to have the cooperation of the Albanian political class".

Regarding to the asylum seekers, the ambassador said that Albania was ranked on the list of safe countries by the end of the last year. An Albanian who seeks asylum in France has very little chance to have it. Regarding to the administrative reforms, Mrs. Christine Moro noted that the stability of public administration was an important issue. In the area of education, she said that the education system must be improved. Another issue that was considered was about the economy and its role to the rule of law.

At the end of the meeting Mrs. Christine Moro said: “Candidate status is not a result, it is a stage and it is a start. After obtaining the status, your efforts should continue because it is worth fighting for ideals and dream of Europe ".