Elections top Albania’s priorities on integration efforts

TIRANA, May 25 – Albania signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union in 2006. It was then ratified by all its member countries was applied as of April 1st of this year. Following the Agreement Albania applied for the candidate’s status at the end of April. Concurrently it became a NATO member country.
But for the moment the whole world’s attention on Albania is focused on the June 28th parliamentary election.
Reading between the lines of the recent EU press release, how Albania performs during the election will all but determine its fate in terms of its becoming a full member of the EU.
Brussels had advised that Albania not even submit its application until after the election, but according to form, Albania submitted the application anyway.
In the run up to the election it is crucial that Albania can create a list of all voters, and make sure that anyone who doesn’t have a passport is able to obtain an identity card in time for the vote, as well as cooperating fully with external observers of the election throughout the process.
Albania became popular with overseas property investors, especially last year, and EU entry being on the horizon was one of the main reasons for the increased interest.
All those people who invested in Albania property will therefore be watching the elections very closely to see if their investment will get a boost that EU entry gives to property values in new member states.
Accession into the EU has a proven track record of boosting property markets, with Bulgaria and Estonia as shining examples.
As well as that, if the election goes well many people will take the plunge into an overseas property investment that otherwise they might have postponed till the end of the year.
Next month’s general elections are the main challenge for Albania, as they are the primary condition for advancing the country’s EU bid, USAID Mission Director to Albania Roberta Mahoney said.
“Elections are an important test. Albania has to show it can hold a free and fair vote,” she noted.
OSCE Ambassador to Tirana Robert Bosch also underscored the elections’ importance, saying he expects them to be fair and transparent. The OSCE is sending 400 observers to monitor the process, in addition to 100 deployed by the EU.
”I very much hope and expect that the political class, as well as those assisting in its administration will ensure that these elections are the best ever this country has ever had so that Albania can really move ‘five steps’ forward,” Bosch said.
Last weekend the electoral race already started for the June 28 parliamentary election with all parties under pressure from the West to hold a free and fair vote.
The centre-right ruling Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha faces a strong challenge from the main opposition Socialist Party of Edi Rama, who is also the Mayor of Tirana.
Socialists and Democrats alike are keen to join the EU.
The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will assess the election.
Berisha bowed to pressure from EU countries last week and agreed to accept an ODIHR team despite earlier objections to its British leader.
Berisha’s ruling Democratic Party has pinned hopes for the re-election on its road-building projects, especially a one-billion euro road linking Albania to Kosovo, and reforms that have improved its people’s well-being and made Albania a member of NATO.
Tax cuts, wage and pension raises and public investments have improved life in Albania but it remains one of Europe’s poorest countries, with many people buying food on credit. The opposition Socialist Party accuses the government of corruption and says it will fix property ownership problems that have stalled development and focus on helping farmers.