EU Integration criteria, not fulfilled

Only a few weeks before the EU will assess Albania’s efforts for the EU candidate status, the Socialist MP Ditmir Bushati, an expert in EU integration matters, commented the report of OSCE-ODIHR and how it will be read by the international community.

“We have two lines, the political one, held by Ashton and Fule, whose political evaluation is clear: the elections in Tirana were not good. This stance was also supported by the United States. We also have the technical line. The report of ODIHR has given a detailed picture of the problems that were met during May 8th elections. There are critical tones for the electoral administration institutions, such as the Central Election Commission and the Electoral College. For not mentioning other important elements, such as the one saying that in 10% of the voting centers, the process did not go as it should, or elements that regard justice and the institutions that were misused. All these elements will negatively affect the evaluation of the EU commission in summer, when the voice of OSCE-ODIHR for election matters is the most authoritarian voice, at least for the Northern Atlantic democracies”, Bushati declared.

Bushati sees the evaluation process by the EU commission as a complex for many cases.

“Not only the election standards were not fulfilled, but we can also say that none of the 12 priorities has been fulfilled, such as corruption in the public administration, media freedom and property rights. We live in a system of impunity and it is important to say that Albania has not made progresses, because the government failed to fulfill the 12 priorities”, Bushati declared.

So what is expected to change in September, when the opposition will enter the Parliament? Will there be a consensus for approving the remaining laws with a qualitative majority, as demanded by EU? Mr. Bushati has not given a definitive answer, but he insinuates that this will be very difficult.

“The 12 priorities that have been identified by EU are not a menu where Berisha has the opportunity to chose one and leave 10 or 11 others. The opposition’s role in the Parliament is not simply to vote the laws, despite their importance. It is mostly for controlling the government in the most democratic way, and for improving the country’s progress”, Bushati declared.

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