Albania’s leaders should use European integration priority as starting point for solving political deadlock
TIRANA TIMES
Tirana, 21 Jul 2011–The legal fight over the Tirana elections is now over, closing the chapter of the local elections. Instead of solutions to the political deadlock, they offered more mistrust and polarity between the two political camps, perpetuating the deeply hostile political relations and hurting the already shaky EU integration process.
After a two-year-old deadlock, two elections handled badly and a conflict-ridden political climate, Albania’s European perspective remains on the slow lane, if it hasn’t pulled off to side of the road altogether.
Judging by the time that has passed since the country signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement, and compared to the progress of neighboring countries like Macedonia and Montenegro, Albania has fallen so far behind, even the most hopeful Albanians are starting to wonder whether the country will reach the finish line in the foreseeable future.
It is a point that has not lost in Brussels. A statement expressing the views of European Union High Representative CatherineAshtonand Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele takes note of the fact that other countries in the region are moving forward in the accession process while Albania is stuck. They encourage Albanians “to grab this momentum to redouble Šefforts and to deliver reforms in key areas.”
When Albania signed the SAA, there was some frustration with Brussels that it was not moving fast enough despite Albania’s efforts to meet its criteria. But when it comes to the next step for Albania, getting official EU candidate status, the blame falls squarely with Albania’s political leaders on both sides of spectrum.
By perpetuating political conflict, these leaders’ failure to put Albania’s European perspective before their own political interests is shameful. Paying lip service to European ideals on one side, and acting against them on the other, not only shows political immaturity, but hurts Albanians’ trust in democracy and their leaders.
The good news from the statement of EU’s top foreign and enlargement officials is that Albania’s European perspective remains high on the European Union agenda and the commission stands ready to continue assist Albania in its European path.
What is needed now is that “Albanian political leaders need to show that they are ready to work towards that direction and put the country’s interest ahead of party agendas,” the statement says.
At this low point the country’s EU progress finds itself, Albania’s leaders should use European integration priority as starting point for solving political deadlock. The European perspective should serve as the foundation of reforms that can lead to consensus. A European solution means negotiating institutionally – taking debate off the street and into parliament. It means accepting election results. It means the opposition is not the enemy, but simply a different alternative working to improve the country. It also means following the latest advice from EU officials: implementing reforms to Albania’s electoral system that could lead to some constitutional changes in order to avoid deadlocks and problematic election processes like the ones of the past couple of years. These reforms should serve to improve the system, not to help the political parties.
As it does for the entire region, the European perspective has for years served to stabilize Albania and drive reforms. Even though progress has virtually stopped, the current situation can serve as a catalyst not only to jumpstart Albania’s integration process but to also move the country’s politics to a better place.
