Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I thank the ambassadors for their presentations. I will deal with Albania first. The steps taken in curbing corruption and putting judicial processes in place are to be commended. Albania's abundance of natural resources is incredible and probably explains the unemployment rate. There is tremendous capacity to build a very strong economy, which would be more than welcome in the European project. The witnesses can be assured of this country's support as Albania moves forward. I am interested to see that Albania is developing sustainable energy in the region. While there are natural resources there that could probably meet Albania's energy needs, the fact that it is engaging in developing sustainable energy is really important.

My final point on Albania is that, recognising war and instability in the region in recent years, its commitment to peace and reconciliation is to be commended, admired and supported in every possible way. As we move forward into the European Union and as Albania's negotiations become more pronounced, any help we can provide should be forthcoming. Albania is clearly taking a leadership role. Hopefully, it will bring other countries along with it and we will see all Balkan states within the European project. That is very commendable. I thank the witnesses for coming here today.

With respect to Montenegro, my colleague, Senator Terry Leyden, has said it all. I appreciate greatly the witnesses coming over from the UK today to engage with us. I am a little concerned at Montenegro's unemployment rate when I see it trying to resolve its GDP problems also. I am concerned because I know the pain involved in redressing an economy with these problems. We have suffered that here for the last ten years and, thankfully, are coming out the other side. Sadly, as one tries to redress GDP issues, unemployment rates tend to grow. As such, Montenegro is going to go through a fairly painful process in the not-too-distant future. Having said that, the reward is mighty. Montenegro's people can only benefit from the measures being taken now. The European Union and its member states must support that. It is not so long ago in this country that we had a massive unemployment rate but, today, we are almost at full employment again. As a former trade union leader, it might stick in my craw but good economic management brought us back to the point of full employment and growth. It takes time. As Montenegro moves forward, the strengthening of its economy is the whole thing. I wish the country well and am delighted to do what I can in my Independent capacity here on any support we can give.

It is important that we are all taking, as political representatives, about the idea of expansion. The witnesses will have heard from the last presentation that I have concerns that as the project grows, there are diminishing marginal returns from expansion. In economic terms, those diminishing marginal returns may make it more difficult for Montenegro and Albania to capitalise on the economic benefits of moving forward. I have been in the region. The Balkans are very beautiful and I wish Albania and Montenegro well and look forward to having them as European partners there in the not-too-distant future.