Klodian Tomorri's warning: The decision on Balluk, a risk for Albania's integration

2026-03-12 19:08:00, Aktualitet CNA

Klodian Tomorri's warning: The decision on Balluk, a risk for

Journalist Klodian Tomorri warned that the recent decision by Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Socialist Party not to lift Belinda Balluku's immunity could have serious consequences for Albania's integration process into the European Union.

According to Tomorri, this decision will not bring an immediate reaction from Brussels, but it could have an impact when the time comes for votes at European levels, increasing the risk of vetoes, especially from Germany. He stressed that the decision "is a bomb that does not explode with noise, but could block the accession train for Albanian citizens."

The journalist also noted that EU integration is important for Albanians' living standards, freedom and public services, and that the decision on Balluk threatens the positive climate that had been created for the enlargement of the European Union.

“This was a critical test for European integration, and Albania has passed it successfully so far, but such decisions could significantly change the membership perspective,” Tomorri said.

"I don't expect the European Commission to come out with a sword and say, look now Albania, Albania's integration was blocked, Albania is excluded, because these Brussels bureaucrats Edi Rama easily arranges them and we have seen it throughout this history. But this is a decision and an action that has clearly disconnected Albania from the train to the European Union, because what we know will happen, that is, vetoes will happen.

Germany certainly has to, it has to veto Albania's integration processes and Albanians need to understand something. So, this is a bomb that will not explode with a bang, for everyone to hear that it was blocked, but it will explode when the time comes to vote, when they come and it risks leaving the country, causing the country to miss the accession train.

Even Edi Rama doesn't have what it takes to integrate, because he has certainly exceeded the standards of the European Union, he is at the rank of sheikhs, maybe even higher. And he doesn't need it.

Membership in the European Union is for Albanian citizens to have the living standards of the European Union, to have the standards of freedom of the European Union, to have the democratic standards of the European Union, to receive public services as citizens of the European Union, and so on.

And why is all this that has happened dangerous? It is also dangerous for another reason. A positive climate had been created for the accession process and the enlargement process of the European Union. For a number of geopolitical factors.

It may be that this positive climate can change very quickly. And history has shown us that the European Union's appetite for enlargement changes frequently and can go from one extreme to the other.

Imagine what happens if you miss the train now that you have the opportunity and then the climate for enlargement is not positive, you will have to wait years and decades for your turn to join the European Union again. So this, this is the major consequence of this action or this, let's say, this defiance of the European Union.

And we have had it clear because the European Parliament delegation came to Albania and said publicly, this is a critical test for European integration. So there was no, that is, as rarely as I have not forgiven, I have not often seen foreign diplomats or politicians speak in such direct language. Here the message was direct, clear, that this is a critical test. And now we have successfully passed this critical test, as we saw,' said Tomorri. / CNA