The resolution of the DP is clarified / the European People's Party raises the concern, the call for the institutions

2024-11-22 13:39:00, Politikë CNA

The resolution of the DP is clarified / the European People's Party raises

The resolution for Albania presented by the Democratic Party of Albania (PDSH) for the Political Assembly of the EPP

Considering the strong will and European aspirations of the Albanian people and of our Albanian member parties within the EPP;

Recognizing the result of the second intergovernmental conference with Albania, held on October 15, 2024, which marked the opening of negotiations for the first group of basic chapters with the country;

Considering the OSCE/ODIHR Final Report on the Local Elections in Albania (2023) and the 2021 Parliamentary Elections

Referring to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2023 [2] ; World Justice Project Index 2024; US State Department 2023 Reports on Human Rights Practices: Albania;

Given that the EPP welcomed the European Council's decision to open Group 1 negotiations with Albania, subject to the implementation of the necessary democratic reforms;

The EPP expresses its concerns regarding:

The state of institutional integrity is reflected in endemic corruption and lack of free and fair elections according to OSCE standards;

The ongoing political confrontation, expressing concern about the reduction of the space for the parliamentary supervisory role of the opposition; urges to increase commitment to dialogue and to strengthen democratic institutions and procedures through constructive inter-party and intra-party engagement, mutual respect, comprehensive consultations with civil society and transparent decision-making;

Lack of building a constructive parliamentary culture by encouraging consensus among all political actors and supporting the rights and responsibilities of the opposition;

Inadequacy to ensure a proper functioning of democratic institutions in the country, including a stable pluralism, competitive opposition and an internal and inter-party political dialogue;

Any alleged political persecution of opposition leaders, MPs and local government officials, facing politically motivated restrictions on their civil rights;

Links between drug trafficking and organized crime with the political elite and law enforcement officials, exploiting Albania's economy and political framework for money laundering;

The failure to reach an agreement on electoral reform, resulting in minimal progress in implementing outstanding recommendations from the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission, recalling that all parties agreed on electoral changes that specifically allow voting from abroad. These were intended to be in accordance with the decisions of the Constitutional Court.

The significant deterioration of the political landscape as the 2025 parliamentary elections approach, marked by poor electoral standards and reminiscent of the illegal use of public resources during electoral campaigns;

These actions have further reduced the constitutional rights of the opposition in the Assembly, reflecting wider violations against the opposition deputies.

Therefore, the European People's Party (EPP):

Strongly supports the preservation of the rule of law and institutional integrity as the foundations of a democratic society;

Calls on the national authorities to respect Albania's commitments to constitutional rights and international democratic standards, ensuring a fair and open environment for all political actors and without persecution and intimidation of the opposition, especially as the elections approach;

Urges the government to intensify efforts to establish credible and transparent progress in the fight against organized crime, drug trafficking and money laundering, ensuring that actions remain impartial and do not target the opposition;

Expresses unwavering support for the efforts of the Democratic Party towards EU membership and its commitment to ensure free and fair elections, recognizing their role in supporting democratic governance and protecting fundamental rights and underlines the legitimate right of the opposition for peaceful protests;

Calls on the Assembly of Albania to intensify its efforts in supporting the Electoral Reform Commission to push for a more inclusive and comprehensive Electoral Code emphasizing the need to address all priority recommendations set by the OSCE/ODIHR and stressing that the government's roadmap should include electoral reforms based on OSCE/ODIHR guidelines;

It asks the Albanian authorities to immediately implement the reforms requested by the EU to protect human rights and to guarantee an independent and impartial judiciary, without political interference;

It emphasizes that free and fair elections constitute the basic pillar of democratic governance, seeking guarantees for the independence of the public administration from the ruling party.

The EPP will closely monitor developments in Albania, supporting its member parties in the upcoming elections and defending Albania's EU aspirations. The EPP reiterates its strong support for the European integration of Albania and the pursuit of the Albanian people for a free and democratic future./ CNA