"EU companies excluded from tenders"/ Berisha: Serious act, silence unacceptable

2026-05-12 12:49:00, Aktualitet CNA

"EU companies excluded from tenders"/ Berisha: Serious act, silence

The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, has stated that the exclusion of European Union companies from public tenders in Albania is a serious act with consequences for Albanian taxpayers.

Berisha stated that silence towards this situation is unacceptable, while he brought to attention the major infrastructure projects built during the democrats' government by prestigious European and American companies.

According to him, the national axes from Hani i Hotit to Kakavija were built by well-known international companies, which won the tenders in a fair and competitive manner.

He accused the current government and infrastructure leaders of favoring clientelistic companies, adding that many of the recently built roads are rapidly degrading.

Berisha also claimed that European companies have been discriminated against through bureaucratic procedures on the e-Albania platform.

In the end, Berisha described this practice as a blow to the European integration process and the public interest, demanding a reaction to what he called "criminal discrimination" against companies from EU member states.

"I have to say, and I express great regret, that for this grave act, there is a silence. And this silence is unacceptable. Why is this silence unacceptable? Because this Albania has an experience. What is this experience?

From Hani i Hotit to Kakavija, all national road axes have been built by well-known European or American companies.

They have won tenders, including international ones, absolutely never discriminating against Albanian companies, but being fair.

In the interest of Albanian taxpayers, the most advantageous offer has always been chosen.

The Hani i Hotit-Shkodër road was built by a well-known Italian company. Bechtel Enka built the National Road. The Lushnje-Fier road was built by a well-known Italian company. The Levan-Vlora road was built by two well-known companies.

Tirana-Elbasan highway from one of the largest companies in Greece, Aktor. Levan-Tepelena-Memaliaj road from Todini, one of the most serious Italian companies. The roads built by these companies today, after 15 years, stand without any problems.

While all the roads built by the Rama-Balluku clientele have collapsed, they are collapsing as if they were straw buildings.

But on the other hand, this is a violation of the interests of Albanian taxpayers. I have denounced it dozens of times, you are witnesses here.

How did they exclude them? I'll tell you. Apply to e-Albania. European and other companies were asked to apply to e-Albania.

The application in e-Albania had a duration of 38 days, at a time when tenders were being filled in 34 days.

Do you understand how the Republic of Albania, which was a frontrunner in the integration process, excluded all companies from EU member states with criminal discrimination and very serious consequences for Albanian citizens?

Because here are the works of the client company. It speaks for itself. He was terrified, he didn't present it yesterday. This is a European statistic," Berisha said./ CNA