Albania-EP meeting postponed to Spring 2015

The Conference of Presidents at the European Parliament rejected the request of the Albanian side for holding the meeting on 15 and 16 of December.

Confidential sources at the Secretariat of the Delegation told Top Channel that it is unusual to hold these meetings in the first days of the week, and that is why they need the authorization of the Conference of Chairmen of the Parliamentary Groups.

Their argument refers to the regulation of the European Parliament, which says that “for meeting that are held in the same time with the plenary session, the delegations meet in Strasbourg on Wednesday afternoons, from 15:00 to 19:00, and Thursdays from 09:00, until the voting procedure starts at the session. For this reason, the Delegation with Albania is invited to be held on the dates that respect this regulation.”

Same sources explain that the Albanian side had notified that they could not be preesent in Strasbourg on December 17th and 18th due to important voting in the plenary session.

This is the third time that Albania postpones the inter-parliamentary meeting. The record was reached with the sixth Inter-Parliamentary Committee of October 2013, which was held one year later, despite the fact that the Stabilization Association Agreement that has entered in effect in 2009, is signed for two annual meetings that will review the political, economic and social developments, together with the approach o the European practices.

In focus of the preparatory meeting for the 8th meeting of Albania and the European Parliament was the parliamentary boycott in Albania. The session of December 18th is especially important due to the concern that the inactive MPs of the opposition might lose their mandates.

Since the inter-parliamentary meeting of December will not be held, and since there have been not enough contacts between the political parties and the newly appointed members of the European Parliament who work with Albania, the European MPs are expected to take advantage of the visit of the Albanian Prime Minister in Brussels, to talk about the opposition’s requests and for a possible solution to their parliamentary boycott.

This Tuesday morning, the Head of the Albanian government was invited by the Friends of Europe for the annual activity that is organized on Balkan. His agenda foresees meeting with leaders and rapporteurs of the European Popular Parties and of the European Parliament. He will arrive on Monday, December 8th, on the day of the national strike that paralyzes the Belgian airways and railways.

Prepared by: Arta Tozaj

Top Channel