TIRANA, July 3 /ATA/ The Chairwoman of the National Council for European Integration, Jorida Tabaku, presented the council’s annual report for 2024 today.
Tabaku stated, “Albania started negotiations with the EU not because it had met the criteria, and not when it should have—in the distant year of 2013—when the country was very close to obtaining candidate status and opening negotiations.”
However, Tabaku added, “Geopolitical circumstances took precedence over the established standards.”
“It was a decision given as a bonus, not as a merit, and unfortunately, we did not capitalize on it; we did not turn it into reform or transformation, we did not improve the standards or the norms, and sadly, today we are still debating minimal standards of democracy,” Tabaku stated.
“An ad-hoc commission was formed but rapidly became a partisan instrument used by the majority to consolidate power instead of promoting reforms,” Tabaku remarked, stressing that “throughout the past year, the National Council for European Integration has been unable to perform its duties effectively, and the opposition has been denied its proper role in the process.”
She stated that the majority hindered the integration process within the Assembly by creating a parallel institution and boycotting the National Council for European Integration—an organization operating without transparency and excluding the opposition. This body has taken over duties usually performed by multiple parliamentary committees and makes decisions on reforms that ought to benefit all Albanians, not just a minority that, unfortunately, continues to act as it has in the past.”
Tabaku stressed that “this commission is pushing forward significant amendments to laws—including those on asset declaration, conflict of interest, and political party financing—without any discussion or consultation, at a time when it is anticipated that from September there will be 83 votes. This majority is enough to alter any organic law without the requirement to consider anyone’s input.”
“This does not represent the European way. It is not the path of consensus, but rather one of control and exclusion instead of collaboration. Europe cannot exist without inclusive institutions that represent all parties. True integration cannot be achieved through unilateral commissions,” added the Democratic Party deputy.
Tabaku stressed that the opposition has consistently cooperated throughout the process, asserting that the sole impediment faced by Albanians has been imposed by the government.
Tabaku stated that this legislature is ending with the highest number of unmet obligations and lacking a comprehensive, inclusive reform. “The Albanian Assembly is the biggest defaulter among all institutions,” she declared.
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