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Resolution on Albania tabled by Democratic Party of Albania (DPA) for the EPP Political Assembly

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  • Considering the strong will and European aspirations of the Albanian people and our Albanian member parties within the EPP;
  • Acknowledging the outcome of the second intergovernmental conference with Albania, held on October 15, 2024, which marked the opening of negotiations on the first cluster of fundamental chapters with the country;
  • Having regard to the OSCE/ODIHR Final Report on Local Elections in Albania (2023) and Parliamentary Elections 2021[1];
  • Referencing to the Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index[2]; the 2024 World Justice Project Index[3]; the US Department of State 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Albania[4];
  • Whereas the EPP welcomed the European Council's decision to open negotiations for Cluster 1 with Albania, contingent upon the implementation of necessary democratic reforms;
  The EPP expresses its concerns regarding:
  • The state of the institutional integritiy reflected in endemic corruption and lack of free and fair elections according to OSCE standards;
  • The enduring political confrontation, expressing concern about the reduction of space for the parliamentary oversight role of the opposition; urges to step up the commitment to dialogue and to strengthen democratic institutions and procedures through constructive interparty and intraparty engagement, mutual respect, inclusive consultations with civil society and transparent decision-making;
  • The lack of building a constructive parliamentary culture by fostering consensus among all political actors and upholding the rights and responsibilities of the opposition;
  • The insufficiency of ensuring a proper functioning of democratic institutions in the country, including through a viable pluralism, competitive opposition and an internal and cross-party political dialogue;
  • Any alleged political persecution of leaders of the opposition, parlamentarians and local government officials, facing politically motivated restrictions of their civil rights;
  • The links between drug trafficking and organised crime with the political elite and with law enforcement officials, utilising Albania's economy and political framework for money laundering;
  • The failure to reach an agreement on electoral reform, resulting in minimal progress in implementing the outstanding recommendations from the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission, recalling as all parties agreed to electoral amendments allowing in particular the vote from abroad. These were meant to comply with rulings of the Constitutional Court.
  • The significant deterioration of the political landscape as the 2025 parliamentary elections approach, marked by weakened electoral standards and recall the illegitimacy of use of public resources during electoral campaigns;
  • These actions which have further diminished the constitutional rights of the opposition in Parliament, reflecting broader violations against opposition MPs.
  Therefore, the European People’s Party (EPP):
  • Strongly supports safeguarding the rule of law and institutional integrity as the cornerstones of a democratic society;
  • Calls on the national authorities to uphold Albania's commitments to constitutional rights and international democratic standards, ensuring a fair and open environment for all political actors and no persecution and intimidation of the opposition, especially as the elections approach;
  • Urges the government to intensify efforts to establish reliable and transparent progress in the fight against organised crime, drug trafficking and money laundering, while ensuring that actions remain impartial and do not target the opposition;
  • Expresses its unwavering support for the Democratic Party’s efforts toward EU accession and its commitment to ensuring free and fair elections, acknowledging their role in upholding democratic governance and protecting fundamental rights and underline the legitimate right of the opposition for peaceful protests;
  • Urges the Albanian Parliament to intensify its efforts in supporting the Commission on Electoral Reform to foster a more inclusive and comprehensive Electoral Code emphasising the need to address all priority recommendations set forth by the OSCE/ODIHR and highlighting that the government’s roadmap must incorporat electoral reforms based on the OSCE/ODIHR guidelines;
  • Urges Albanian authorities to immediately implement EU-required reforms to protect human rights and ensure an independent, impartial judiciary free from political interference;
  • Emphasises that free and fair elections consist the fundamental pillar of democratic governance, calling for guarantees in the indepencence of public administration from the ruling party.
  The EPP will closely monitor developments in Albania, supporting its member parties in upcoming elections and advocating for Albania’s EU aspirations. The EPP reiterates its strong support for Albania’s European integration and the Albanian people’s pursuit of a free and democratic future. [1] https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/d/d/553972.pdf [2] Albania - Transparency.org ranks Albania 98 out of 180 countries and the most corrupt in Europe, a last month’s study shows 52% of its citizen are bribed from state administration. [3] https://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/country/2024/Albania/ which ranks Albania 106 (out of 142 countries) for Constraints on Government Power; 107 for Absence of Corruption, 114 for Regulatory and Enforcement; 101 for Civil Justice, and 92 for Criminal Justice;and 106 for gavenment interiference in criminal justice [4] https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/albania/


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