TIRANA, Sept 21 /ATA/ Taulant Balla, Chairman of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, said during his address at the 22nd meeting of the EU–Albania Parliamentary Stabilisation and Association Committee that Albania’s European integration process has entered a new phase following the opening of all negotiating clusters with the European Union.
Speaking also in his capacity as Co-Chair of the EU–Albania Parliamentary Stabilisation and Association Committee, Balla said Albania’s objective is to conclude the accession negotiations by Christmas 2027, with the aim of joining the European family by 2030.
He stressed that the current phase requires not only the adoption of legislation aligned with European standards, but, above all, its effective implementation in practice and tangible results for citizens.
“The closer we get to the conclusion of the negotiations, the more the focus must shift from adopted legislation to its implementation, from commitments made to the expected results, and from written standards to standards that citizens can actually experience in their daily lives,” Balla said.
In his address, he welcomed the adoption, by a broad political consensus, of the Albanian Parliament’s resolution on the EU accession process, as well as the strong support from the European Parliament, which on June 17 adopted its report on Albania with 483 votes in favour.
Balla stressed that the Albanian Parliament should play a more active role in monitoring reforms and exercising parliamentary oversight over the implementation of European legislation, while involving citizens, civil society, and stakeholders in the process.
He also highlighted the “Pasqyra Albania” initiative, presented by the government as a new transparency platform that will give citizens access to comprehensive and verifiable information on the activities of public institutions and the use of public funds.
During the meeting, participants will discuss the role of Parliament in the integration process, the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organized crime, the economy, tourism, sustainable development, fundamental rights, media freedom, and regional cooperation.
In closing, Balla thanked SAPC Co-Chair and MEP Marco Tarquinio, as well as the European Union institutions, for their continued support for Albania on its European path. He expressed his belief that the discussions held in Tirana would help accelerate the country’s EU accession process.
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