Roll up the sleeves

TIRANA TIMES EDITORIAL

As 2013 wraps up, and Albania gets ready to start 2014, there are challenges and opportunities for the country, the government and its people. But with some hard work, respect for the rules and some luck, 2014 could turn into a very good year.
Albania’s government faces a golden opportunity of 12 months of wide political support in cannot squander. The political fights, the deadlock and the boycotts ended with the clear mandate Albanian voters gave the government in the 2013 elections and how all parties handled the outcome of the elections.
The time to complain about the previous government also ends in 2013. Albanians get it. The economy and the finances are bad due to domestic and international factors. They have a clear view of the state of Albania נthat’s why they voted for change. Now it’s time the new Socialist-led government to show the country how it can do things better – not only to show off with PR stunts as it has often done in its fist months in office, but to implement actual, meaningful reforms and do some hard work that can show results 12 months from now.
Albania faces major economic challenges, but Albanians have proven that they are are a resilient and hard working people in the past. So the message for 2014 is roll up the sleeves: work harder and longer, but, more importantly, obey the rules and do not put up with anyone who doesn’t. The country will not change as long as there are many Albanians looking for a shortcut to success through cheating and bribing. If meaningful change is to take place in this country, it will start with a cultural shift that values honesty and hard work above corruption and thuggery. If there is one goal the new government needs to set for itself is to bring dignity to every Albanian through rule of law that is equal to all.
“Making Albania like the rest of Europe” has been the motto of the country for more than two decades. That goal can be accomplished only with hard work to improve the economy, strong rule of law and modernizing society. That’s the real meaning of the European integration, which has been dubbed as Albania’s most important national project by the government and the majority of Albanians.
However, when it comes to the formal process of membership in the European Union itself, Albanians need to buckle up for a rough ride. Some good luck will also be needed.
Regardless of the Albania’s progress or promises from well-intentioned friendly EU nations and EU diplomats, there is a real chance Albania’s EU progress will stall in 2014 due to the country facing a more skeptic European electorate in 2014.
With enlargement decisions requiring unanimous votes, a minority of European representatives, whose sole mission is either to destroy the union itself or to make life miserable for anyone involved in it, will continue to do in 2014 what they did in 2013, when Albania’s status decision was denied for the fourth time, largely through no fault of its own.
Several populist, far-right parties are expected to gain ground in the next elections, either holding their governments’ fate in their hands or scaring mainstream politicians enough to ponder to their phobias. Albanians can’t take these historical developments personally, but must be aware that they exist and that Albania can do little to control them.
Albanians must focus instead on what they can control and use the optimism that comes naturally with the start of a new year to launch a better future for themselves and Albania.