EPP 26 amendments for Albania/ "Progress in integration, but alarm about corruption and property"

2026-03-20 10:37:00, Aktualitet CNA

EPP 26 amendments for Albania/ "Progress in integration, but alarm about

The European People's Party (EPP) Group has submitted a number of key amendments to the European Parliament regarding the 2025 report on Albania, focusing on the "fundamentals" pillar and the membership criteria. The EPP underlines that the credibility of the enlargement process depends on strict conditionality and merit-based progress, stressing that the mere formal adoption of legislation should not be enough.

MEPs from this group, such as Andrey Kovatchev and David McAllister, demand that Albania's membership be conditional on sustainable and irreversible reforms in areas such as the rule of law and the functioning of democratic institutions.

In the amendments submitted, the EPP expresses concern about the lack of a clear separation between state institutions and party structures, which they believe undermines equal competition.

The group calls for a comprehensive electoral reform that addresses structural inequalities, including transparency of campaign financing and equal access to the media. The EPP also stresses the importance of meaningful participation of the opposition in parliamentary proceedings and expresses concern about unilateral changes in the structure of parliamentary committees.

As regards justice and the fight against corruption, the EPP commends the work of SPAK and calls for ensuring its sustainable independence and adequate resources. They warn against any legal initiative that could limit SPAK's investigative powers.

The EPP has also proposed measures to strengthen the protection of minorities and property rights. In their amendments, they demand that property rights be guaranteed in practice through the return of confiscated properties to legitimate beneficiaries, calling this a precondition for Albania's path to membership.

The group also calls for continued monitoring of the situation of national minorities, including access to education in their mother tongue and the protection of their historical heritage.

In the field of foreign policy, the EPP congratulates Albania for its full alignment with the EU's common policy and military support for Ukraine. However, they express concern about initiatives developed outside the EU framework, such as the "Open Balkans", which they believe risk creating parallel structures that could undermine the Berlin Process./ CNA