Marco Tarquinio, chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Albania, and Andreas Schieder, the Parliament’s standing rapporteur for Albania, have voiced concern over the escalation of protests in Tirana.

“We condemn the violent escalation of these protests, attacks on public institutions and the destruction of public and private property,” they said in an official statement. They urged demonstrators to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from violence, stressing that such actions hinder solutions and have no place in a democracy.

At the same time, the delegation expressed serious concern over reports of excessive police force against protesters. It called on the authorities to show restraint and urged the relevant bodies to establish individual responsibility for all acts of violence, including any excessive use of force.

The statement also underlined that the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are protected by both the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. Young people, in particular, have the right to express their views on issues that directly affect their future.

The MEPs therefore called on Albanian authorities to safeguard these freedoms and ensure that citizens can exercise their right to peaceful protest.

They also urged all stakeholders to engage in serious, constructive dialogue to address protesters’ grievances in line with Albanian law and European standards.

“Respect for the rule of law remains the key criterion and an essential condition for Albania’s progress towards European Union membership,” the statement concluded.