TIRANA, May 21 /ATA/ – Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha said on Thursday that Albania’s integration into the European Union remains the main opposition party’s foremost strategic objective, describing EU membership as the key to greater freedom, prosperity and security for Albanian citizens.
Speaking at a conference organized by the Democratic League of Albanian Women and Sweden’s Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation on EU enlargement, NATO and regional security, Berisha said the European integration process should be strictly merit-based and grounded in democratic standards and the rule of law.
“Integration into the European Union is the Democratic Party’s top priority,” Berisha said. “Only a merit-based process can guarantee citizens fundamental freedoms and rights, an independent judiciary, a functioning market economy and the implementation of the EU acquis.”
Berisha described the current moment as a critical one for Albania, citing international assessments that have raised concerns over the country’s democratic standards and electoral processes.
Referring to the EU’s Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR), he argued that the report had undergone substantial amendments due to issues related to corruption, justice reform and the government’s handling of judicial investigations.
Despite his criticism of the government, Berisha reiterated the opposition’s support for Albania’s EU path, stressing that European integration remains the most effective framework for ensuring long-term stability and development in the Western Balkans.
“The region has extraordinary potential and resources,” he said. “There is no better path for addressing the challenges of the Western Balkans than European integration.”
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