EU integration should be more than a talking point

Tirana, May 17 – It has been the phrase on the mouth of every Albanian politician for more than a decade: “EU integration.” It is used to justify every action — every compromise. Some parties have even used the word “integration” in their official name. But the fact that Albania’s integration process has been dead in its tracks for nearly three years is far more important in showing how Albanian politicians are acting – which isvery different from what they have been saying.
European officials have been crystal clear about what needs to be done to advance Albania’s EU bid. But beyond the 12 bullet points about what Albania needs to do on the technical end, there is also the true spirit of integration: having a modern democratic society that has the functioning, feel and look of an EU member.
Electing a head of state that signifies the unity of the country, who is apolitical and who is selected by wide consensus, is something that comes natural to EU members with a parliamentary republic system similar to that of Albania. As such, the presidential election this summer will be a probe into what Albania’s future will look like for the next four years.
Danish European Affairs Minister Nikolai Wammen made it clear last week for example, while visiting Tirana, that presidential election is the first test for the country’s democratic progress and its fulfillment of the 12 key recommendations from the European Union on its candidate status request. Denmark’s interest is accentuated by the fact that it heads EU’s presidency this first half of the year.
“Presidential election will be the first test for Albania’s progress, for its own progress and for the next parliamentary elections to be held next year,” Wammensaid.
Yet, it appears that for Albanian politicians, electing the next president is all about calculating how it can help their parties get ahead beyond the 2013 elections. In the likely event that the Democratic Party will lose the elections of 2013, Prime Minister Berisha wants someone in the chair who can exert influence behalf of the Democratic Party. He technically has enough votes to elect a leader within the Democratic Party as head of state and has stated that is what he wants to do.
The Socialist Party and the Socialist Movement for Integration cannot elect the president on their own and are pushing for “a candidate of national unity,” as mandated by the spirit of the constitution, but at the same time are using this occasion to warm up to each-other as SMI hopes to gain some votes on the left again and SP wants to crack open the DP-SMI ruling coalition.
SMI leader Ilir Meta is stepping into the limelight again after being found innocent in court on corruption charges for lack of evidence, but the Albanian public opinion in general and opposition voters in particular haven’t changed their minds about the former deputy prime ministers’ corruption-related allegations.
His recent meeting with Socialist leader Edi Rama and the press interviews afterword were filled with the use of “integration” and “Europe,” as motivating factors of why the two once arch enemies were meeting in a friendly setting once more.
The truth is far simpler: with the approaching presidential and general elections, combined with the current razor-thin majority, Albania’s political parties are carefully calculate their bets – and will likely continue to do whatever they can to serve the interests of their leaders for access to power. “EU integration” remains just a buzz phrase in their minds.
Unless Albanian political leaders see integration as a more than just a talking point, and start acting on it, there are likely more troubles ahead for this country.