EU Wants Albanian Opposition to Go Back to Parliament

Tirana, Albania | Tirana Echo – The European Union wants Albania’s opposition democrats to stop the protest and go back to Parliament in what is seen as an attempt to block the crucial ‘Vetting’ process of the milestone justice reform.

In a statement on recent developments in Albania, EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said he regretted the recent parliamentary boycott announced by the opposition, urging the Democratic Party of Albania to stay away from the street and keep political debate inside the parliament.

“Cooperation of government and opposition is crucial for the country’s ambition to join the European Union. In particular, it is of utmost importance to maintain parliamentary continuity in a time where substantial reforms are on the agenda of the parliament, such as the setting up of the vetting bodies in the framework of the justice reform and the electoral reform including the follow-up of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation recommendations which are essential for ensuring free and fair elections later this year. These reforms are crucial for Albania to move forward on its EU integration path“. – said Hahn in a stern message to the right wing opposition which enters its 6th day of protest in front of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tirana.

Similar calls had been repeated this morning in Tirana by European Parliament Rapporteur Knut Fleckenstein who said that the Democratic Party should go back to parliament because that is the only place to negotiate and take decisions.

Hinting that justice reform could be blocked by the parliamentary boycott of the democrats, Fleckenstein said that “Justice reform should not be done to satisfy us, but the citizens above all. Justice reform was approved by consensus in parliament and the consensus should be shown through implementation that it was real – where the Vetting process is crucial” .

Earlier in the week, European Commission Spokesperson Maja Kocijancic said for the Albanian Public TV that the Commission supports only political debates in Parliaments, not those outside, which only deteriorate political climates.

“Further polarization of the political climate would be counterproductive for Albania’s EU ambitions. It is important to have the Parliament operating in such a key moment as the judiciary reform. These amendments are essential for guaranteeing Albania’s further EU path. As you remember, the Commission recommended to start the EU accession negotiations this November, based on specific results from the judiciary reform“, she said.

The stern messages from the European union come as the Democratic Party has announced a parliamentary boycott until the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the creation of a technical government which would pave the way for free and fair elections in June 18.

The European Commission expects Albania to start implementing its historic reform of its corrupt justice system and hold free and fair elections in June, before it can formally open accession talks for EU membership.