Ambassador of the European Union, Mr. Ettore Sequi: Open lecture on “European Union Legal System”

On December, 17 2012, the Ambassador of the European Union, Mr. Ettore Sequi held an open lecture with the students of “Hëna e Plotë” (Bedër) University on the EU legal system and the role of its institutions in the decision making process.

Mr. Sequi was invited by the Department of Law to introduce and explain EU legal system in the context of the “Comparative Legal Systems” series. Ambassador Sequi expressed its satisfaction that he was given the opportunity to talk to the students because they will decide for the future of the nation.

During the presentation, Mr. Sequi highlighted the importance of the EU legal system, the rule of law, the law enforcement and transparency as a determinant factor to consolidate democracy. He introduced the main changes brought with the Lisbon Treaty on the EU foreign policy and legal framework of the EU institutions and their function in the decision making. Another topic discussed and explained was the euro crises and the dilemma of some members to stay or not in Euro Zone. According to him, from the inception, EU has faced several crises, putting to doubt the existence of the EU as a peace project. He emphasized the fact that the support of the EU has boosted the economy of the small countries and has helped them not only to overcome the economic crises but to smoothen its effects as well.

After the presentation, ambassador Sequi welcomed the questions from the students regarding the role of the EU institutions in decision making and democracy and the challenges of integration process in Albania. With regard to the integration process, he stressed that this is not the suitable time to find the responsible for this delay, but to focus on the future reforms and to be conscious about the benefits of this process in order to bring Albania closer to the EU.

In the end of the presentation, the Head of Delegation of the EU in Tirana, Mr. Sequi delivered a message to the students by encouraging being active and good professionals with the purpose of preparing the society for the challenges that accession in the EU will bring.