The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted its resolution on Albania. The document praises Albania’s commitment to European Union integration and acknowledges the country’s ambition to conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2027.
The resolution highlights “concern over continued political polarization and confrontational political discourse, which undermine parliamentary oversight, public trust, and the effective functioning of democratic institutions.”
“1. Welcomes Albania’s outstanding commitment to EU integration, based on consensus among all its political parties and overwhelming support among its citizens, and congratulates Albania on opening all negotiation clusters within only 13 months; notes that Albanian citizens’ support for EU membership remains consistently high and reflects the strong European aspirations of Albanian society; encourages the country to maintain the current reform momentum and continue aligning with the EU acquis, emphasizing that Albania’s progress on its European path contributes to the stability, security, and resilience of the European continent;
- Takes note of Albania’s ambition to conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2027 and welcomes the rapid progress achieved in recent years; stresses the need for Albanian authorities to ensure the full implementation of legislation;
- Notes that both the European Commission’s 2025 Report on Albania and the ODIHR report on the May 2025 parliamentary elections assess Albania’s electoral framework as generally adequate for conducting competitive elections, while reiterating concerns regarding an uneven playing field for political actors, the misuse of administrative resources blurring the distinction between state institutions and party structures, political party financing, allegations of vote-buying, and pressure on voters; therefore calls on Albania’s ruling majority and opposition to pursue, in a constructive and inclusive manner, a comprehensive electoral reform in close cooperation with civil society and to fully implement the outstanding recommendations of ODIHR and the Venice Commission well ahead of future electoral cycles; stresses that such reform should strengthen the electoral framework, including campaign finance transparency, equal media access, and safeguards against the misuse of administrative resources, while ensuring effective implementation; underlines that broad political consensus and genuine implementation of these reforms are essential for ensuring public confidence in future elections;
- Expresses concern over continued political polarization and confrontational political discourse, which undermine parliamentary oversight, public trust, and the effective functioning of democratic institutions; encourages political actors to re-engage in constructive parliamentary dialogue, ensuring that the Parliament of Albania remains the central forum for democratic debate and oversight; underlines that a functioning democracy requires meaningful opposition participation in parliamentary procedures; recalls that violent protests have no place in a functioning democracy;
- Encourages stronger parliamentary scrutiny of the executive, greater transparency in legislative procedures, and more meaningful early-stage consultations with civil society organizations, social partners, and independent institutions; stresses that progress in the EU integration process should not come at the expense of the quality and inclusiveness of reforms; underlines the importance of adequate stakeholder engagement and national ownership to ensure sustainable implementation and long-lasting impact; emphasizes the importance of strengthening the role and capacities of Albania’s parliamentary committees, including through improved access to information, expert support, and transparent legislative procedures,” the resolution states, among other points.
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