TIRANA, Nov 11 /ATA/ – Electoral reform, the implementation of OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and improvements to Albania’s electoral processes were the focus of talks between Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Ilirjan Celibashi and European Union Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa on Wednesday.
In a social media post, Celibashi said the ambassador had welcomed Albania’s progress towards EU membership but stressed that the final stage of the accession process was the most challenging and required greater efforts within a limited timeframe.
Moreira de Sousa said Albania had the capacity to deliver the expected results, adding that ODIHR recommendations should be implemented following thorough debate and that electoral reform should be completed as soon as possible.
She also reaffirmed the EU’s readiness to support the CEC, calling for the identification of areas where European assistance could bring the greatest added value to the institution’s work.
Celibashi thanked the EU for its continued support, saying the CEC had implemented the technical recommendations, while those requiring political decisions needed the involvement of the government and parliament.
He said Albania’s next elections should be the best ever held in the country, also as part of its efforts to advance towards full EU membership. Responsibility for electoral standards, he added, rested not only with the CEC but with all political and institutional stakeholders.
The meeting identified several key issues for the electoral reform, including the misuse of state resources, the conduct of public administration during election campaigns, campaign financing, the professionalisation of election administration and guaranteeing voting rights for citizens unable to cast their ballots in person.
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