TIRANA, Dec 2 /ATA/ – By Maela Marini/ The Chairwoman of the Parliamentary European Affairs Committee, Jorida Tabaku, the Democratic Party MP, stated on Monday that Albania’s EU integration process is being carried out in a closed and isolated fashion, neglecting businesses and the majority of Albanians.
During the hearing session with Chief Negotiator Majlinda Dhuka, Tabaku emphasized that so far, the only criterion that has been met is the geostrategic one, while the other criteria remain unfulfilled and require a thorough analysis and an inclusive public discussion.
“The integration process cannot rely solely on Albania’s geostrategic position. It is vital that businesses, civil society, and citizens are involved in this process. Keeping this process behind closed doors is yet another sign of the government’s lack of transparency,” stated Tabaku.
According to her, discussions on key clusters, such as foreign trade, are of paramount importance for boosting investments and the country’s economic development.
“However, the government continues to maintain a closed approach, excluding the key stakeholders of this process. Albanian businesses, which are the engine of the economy, have not been involved in any step of this process. Discussions on chapters such as foreign trade and trade agreements are crucial for creating an investment climate, but the government continues to ignore them,” stated Tabaku.
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