Chairman of the Parliamentary group of the Socialist Party Taulant Balla reacted on social networks today by describing the decision as a great appreciation for Albania’s progress in the European integration process and on the path towards membership in the European Union.

“This European Parliament decision is a strong recognition of Albania’s solid strides toward joining the European Union”, said Balla.

He thanked all MEPs who voted in support of the resolution, while he dedicated special thanks to the Rapporteur for Albania in the European Parliament Andreas Schieder, the Social-Democrats Group, as well as Andrey Kovatchev for their contribution on support of the country’s European perspective.

Balla considered this vote as a strong signal of support for Albania’s European future and the objective of EU membership by 2030.

/gj.m/ /a.g/p.s./

Speaking during a plenary session, Zhupa referred to recent protests against a planned tourism development in Zvërnec and said demonstrators were demanding stronger protection of Albania’s natural and cultural heritage.

“The protesters are calling for the protection of protected areas, as well as the country’s natural and cultural heritage,” Zhupa said.

She said a draft law submitted on May 14 to repeal the protected areas legislation had yet to be scheduled for parliamentary review.

“The European Parliament called for the repeal of the protected areas law. The relevant draft law is the only item on the legislative calendar that still has no date for consideration,” Zhupa said, urging lawmakers to address what she described as pressing public concerns.

Zhupa also called on the ruling majority to respond to citizens’ demands, warning that public opposition to the project was growing.

/r.e/a.f/u.sh/

During a press conference, Berisha stressed that this report has been met with a deafening silence from the media and this is unacceptable.

“The report is a sobering document, revealing that nearly half of Albanian children are vulnerable to poverty. It highlights a critical absence of government initiatives for marginalized youth and condemns the systemic indifference in social policy. Furthermore, it critiques the underfunding of education and the lack of a cohesive housing and employment strategy for students and young professionals”, said Berisha.

Berisha stressed that the recent cross-party European Parliament resolution validates our long-standing warnings, confirming one by one the critical issues addressed in eight previous denunciations since late 2024.

The DP leader stated that the report sanctions the exclusion of opposition and civil society from integration, arguing that this process cannot be treated as a private matter of the government. He emphasized that the Parliament should be the primary venue for managing this process. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

In a report adopted by 58 votes in favor, 7 against and 7 abstentions, MEPs on the Committee on Foreign Affairs welcome Albania’s outstanding commitment to EU integration and the swift progress it has made in recent years, calling on the authorities to ensure legislation adopted is implemented thoroughly.

Despite the progress achieved, states the report, Albania still faces several challenges, such as overcoming internal political polarization and improving the political culture, strengthening the rule of law and consolidating anti-corruption reforms.

Noting Albania’s ambition of closing accession negotiations by the end of 2027, the report warns that the quality of the country’s reforms will determine the timetable for accession.

Rule of law, judiciary and anti-corruption

While praising the continued implementation of the judicial reform process, MEPs note that the judiciary continues to face political pressure and threats, which risk undermining judicial independence. Furthermore, despite progress in the fight against corruption, it is still a serious concern, say MEPs. The text stresses that Albania must further consolidate its track record for investigations, prosecutions and final convictions, particularly in high-level corruption cases. It also highlights the importance of effectively combating organized crime, including money laundering and drug trafficking networks.

Media freedom and public administration reform

The report calls for further efforts to protect freedom of expression and media pluralism, as well as progress in public administration reform to ensure merit-based recruitment and the depoliticisation of the civil service. While welcoming Albania’s engagement in implementing the EU’s growth plan for the Western Balkans, the report points out to perennial structural weaknesses, such as the challenging business environment. It also highlights the key importance of genuine social dialogue for delivering the benefits of enlargement to all segments of the population.

The MEPs also commend Albania’s continued full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy and its constructive role in promoting regional stability.

Parliament will vote on the report at one of its upcoming plenary sessions.

Writing in a post in the social media, Balla appreciated that this marks a critical step forward in Albania’s EU accession process.

He stressed that the support of MEPs confirms the country’s commitment to advancing reforms and fulfilling the obligations of the integration process.

According to Balla, the resolution clearly reflects Albania’s achievements and supports the ambition to conclude membership negotiations by the end of 2027.

He also expressed sincere appreciation to the Committee Chair David McAllister and the Rapporteur for Albania Andreas Schieder for their invaluable contributions to the drafting of this report.

Balla also extended special thanks to Andrey Kovatchev for his contribution to reaching a compromise on the final text.

Albania remains committed to comprehensive reforms, aligning with EU legislation to transform its economy and society for impending membership.

/m.m/j.p/p.s./

During the conversation, there were discussed key issues for Albania’s accession process to the European Union, emphasizing the support and important role of the European Parliament.

Spiropali highlighted the need for the resolute continuation of reforms, with 2026 as a pivotal year for implementing our agreed-upon plans.

The talks also focused on significance of aligning Albania’s foreign policy with the common EU policy, as a strategic investment in strengthening international cooperation.

The interlocutors also discussed on the possibilities for expanding and diversifying cooperation with all European institutions, including the European Parliament, in all areas, both for the candidate country and for the perspective of future membership.

Spiropali thanked the delegation for its continued support for the enlargement process and Albania’s membership in the EU, appreciating it as a valuable investment for the peace, security and prosperity of the European continent. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

Spiropali said that during the meeting they discussed on the special role of the European Parliament in monitoring the membership negotiations, the significance of the upcoming report on Albania in consolidating the positive perception of the progress achieved and in guiding the further steps in the process.

“We shared the positive evaluation on the progress of the negotiations, so far; the reforms, particularly in the field of the rule of law and fundamental rights, as well as the unwavering and continuous commitment of our foreign policy to that of the EU, as well as in the continuous alignment with the values, policies and stance of the European Union”, Spiropali said.

In this context, Spiropali emphasized that the perspective of achieving the intermediate milestones (IBAR), as a decisive moment that will pave the way for the process of closing the chapters, placing Albania in 2026 in a new, even more concrete and measurable phase on the path to membership. /m.m/a.f/r.e/p.s./

Today’s approval of report during EP plenary session in Strasbourg follows earlier endorsement by the Foreign Affairs Committee last month. The report, drafted by Austrian MEP Andreas Schieder, was backed by major political groups and the European Commission.

In a statement on the social media following the vote, Parliament Speaker Elisa Spiropali welcomed the report, describing it as an important political and institutional assessment of Albania’s progress towards EU membership. Spiropali underscored the broad support the enlargement process enjoys within the European Parliament.

“We welcome the report and appreciate the European Parliament’s constructive and supportive role, and thank the Members of the European Parliament for their close attention to developments in Albania and the Western Balkans,” Spiropali stated.

She expressed particular gratitude to Andreas Scheider, the EP rapporteur for Albania, for his “dedicated, objective, and balanced approach towards both achievements and remaining challenges, as well as for his collaborative efforts.”

Spiropali emphasized the encouraging tone of the report, which clearly reflects the reforms and accomplishments of the last two years, while identifying areas where further, faster, and better progress is needed.

Highlighting the significance of the report’s timing, Spiropali said Albania is advancing with unprecedented determination on its EU integration path, in line with the aspirations of the Albanian people and fundamental EU values – strengthening democracy, rule of law, human rights, good governance, fight against organized crime and corruption, public administration reform, and media freedom.

The report recognizes Albania’s progress in meeting conditions for opening and advancing negotiation chapters, calling on EU institutions and member states to maintain a merit-based, fair, and predictable approach to Albania.

“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to accelerate the necessary reforms for membership and to work closely with EU institutions. We view this report as a significant political message, aligned with the clear mandate given by Albanian voters in the May 11 elections, to pursue EU integration resolutely,” Speaker Spiropali said.

She also highlighted awareness of the rigorous, transformative nature of the accession process and the need for deeper cooperation with all European institutions, including the European Parliament. She welcomed recommendations aimed at further deepening reforms that bring tangible benefits to Albanian citizens and contribute to the EU’s unity and strength.

/gj.m//a.f//r.e/u.sh/

In a press statement, Berisha underlined that “this time, the European Parliament seriously considered elections in Albania,” voicing full confidence in EP commitment to free and fair vote.

Berisha added that the opposition will also unveil a preliminary report on the May 11 vote.

“We concluded the updated second report and we will unveil it to the public. A final report will be also introduced as soon as possible and the findings will be submitted to the MEPs, to parliaments of all EU member states and to Foreign Ministers. We will make strong efforts to reveal the truth about vote in Albania, Europe’s only narco-state,” DP leader stated.

He added that the opposition will introduce the report also to the Socialists and all interest groups.

“This is the international phase of the process and the party will definitely analyze the vote, organizing at the same time the resistance for the free vote,” Berisha concluded.

/a.f/r.e/u.sh/

Balla, also Socialist Party’s political coordinator for the diaspora, underlined that Albania embarked on the EU accession process in 2014 after Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia, but the country is surpassing its neighbors and progressing rapidly on the path to joining the bloc.

“I have been participating in such events since the programme was launched and I can now say that Albania’s path to EU membership is not just a political ambition, but a national mission to break up from the shadows of the past and harboring ourselves in a future of peace, freedom and equal rights. This is our only plan for the future and we have no plan B. And we are ready to deliver starting next month after winning the May 11 elections. Our ambition is to wrap up all the technical negotiations by 2027 and become full-fledged EU member by 2030,” Balla said in his opening remarks.

The Socialist official also called for advancement of Kosovo’s path to EU membership by opening the accession negotiations.

“Kosovo deserves opening the EU accession negotiations as soon as possible. We also want North Macedonia to begin the negotiations,” Balla said.

State Minister Balla also responded to a question by European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Serbia, Tonino Picula, about Albania’s relations with the United States of America after President Trump’s reelection, stating Albania is the most the most pro-American and European nation in Europe.

“More than 90% of Albanians support EU membership. We are also lucky to be the most pro-American country in Europe. Mr. Trump’s victory could be seen as a huge opportunity for Europe to consider stronger cooperation,” Balla said.

a.f//r.e/u.sh/