TIRANA, June 17 /ATA/ – Gazment Bardhi, head of the main opposition Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, welcomed on Wednesday the European Parliament’s adoption of a report on Albania’s progress towards European Union membership, saying it reaffirmed broad support for the country’s integration ambitions while underscoring the need for democratic reforms.
Bardhi said all political groups in the European Parliament had supported Albania’s European integration efforts, stressing that the report reflected longstanding concerns raised by the opposition, arguing that the country’s EU accession process could move forward only through free and fair elections and a determined crackdown on organised crime and corruption.
“The European Parliament has once again confirmed the unwavering support of all political groups for Albania’s European integration,” he said. “At the same time, it has reiterated a point the opposition has raised for years: that progress on this path depends on free and fair elections and an uncompromising fight against organised crime and corruption.”
Speaking from Strasbourg, Bardhi said the report also cited what he described as political protection for corruption at the highest levels of government.
According to Bardhi, the report raises concerns over Prime Minister Edi Rama’s support in parliament for maintaining the immunity of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku.
“No corrupt official should be shielded from accountability, and parliamentary immunity should be lifted in accordance with standards set by the Venice Commission,” he said.
Bardhi said the report adopted by the European Parliament would serve as a clear roadmap for the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group in the period ahead.
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