Strong pressure by the international community is imperative as Albanian political parties are already in conflict over the next electoral process. EU integration should also not serve as political tool in conflict. Opposition’s not voting three key laws is wrong, but so is tying lack of integration progress with just that fact.
Tirana, Feb 8 – In Albania, there is currently a strong politicization of European integration, and the political use by the political parties of issues related to the EU integration process has been in particular focus.
Albanian political parties, involved in non-stop conflict with each other, ahead of the next parliamentary elections, are blaming each other about what they call “blocking” or lack of progress in the road of Albania to EU membership.
In the last three months, the government has accused the main opposition Socialist Party and its leader of blocking the process of European integration by not voting on three laws in parliament which require more than a simple majority, thus which must have the opposition’s votes. The government accuses the opposition of blocking Albania’s ability of obtaining EU candidate status as a result.
There is no doubt the decision of the opposition not to vote these laws in parliament is wrong — absolutely wrong. We expect the opposition to vote laws based on the content of laws, not any other reason. But the opposition has conditioned consensus on these three laws with implementing current laws and the proper functioning of law in a dispute in the local council in the District of Fier, where the opposition says blatant disregard for laws and court rulings has cost it its majority in the council. Laws currently in the books are not properly applied, says the opposition, bringing the example of Fier, so why should we vote in any new laws until the ones we have are properly followed.
However, if properly implementing current laws would be a condition for having new ones in Albania, few laws would ever get passed. Rule of law here is a huge problem, and proper implementation is often lacking.
Not implementing the current laws or the low scale of implementation are in fact serious obstacles on Albania’s path toward European Union integration. But that doesn’t mean one stops approving laws in parliament or sets conditions to do so.
It is a wrong approach by the opposition and, unfortunately, is not new, as it has done the same in the past four to five years.
On the other hand, tying lack of progress in the integration process with just the three laws that await approval is ridiculous. Equally ridiculous is an electronic box placed near the parliament entrance by its speaker marking how many hours and days the opposition has delayed European integration, its slogan reading: Three Laws = Europe.
The government is attacking the opposition to blame it for hindering integration, but it is curious that no single EU Delegation official has ever noted that “Three Laws = Europe” is not true, after saying that the opposition is wrong in not voting the three laws.
Albania’s political parties are already at each-others throats over preparations for the elections — ranging from how mandates are distributed to technicalities of the process itself. However, we have noted that this lack of consensus between the government and the opposition on a number of issues that have to do with a proper free and fair electoral process has not been the focus of the EU Delegation to Tirana. It has instead focusing on just asking for the consensus of the opposition to pass the three laws.
We believe that the approach of the opposition on voting the three laws is wrong of course, but reducing the need for consensus only on these three laws means the delegation is ignoring other substantive issues, and that is not helpful.
It appears EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule’s arrival has led to some changes, and for the first time, we don’t have an entirely formalistic view on the part of the EU officials. They are pushing for free and fair elections and both sides to cultivate a culture of dialogue and compromise.
The equation displayed on the walls of parliament — Three laws = Europe — is as true as true as the photo we are publishing with this editorial, showing a dirt path in rural Albania marked with a new sign labeled “Europe Street.”
A critical approach is needed not only from local actors in Albania: political parties, media and others, but a critical approach is also required by the European Union institutions.
Albania can ill afford going to go to the elections with a spirit of conflict. The lack of compromise and fighting over technicalities so early on the elections process is worrying. As such strong pressure from local representatives of the EU and other international bodies is needed to nip such conflict in the bud. Focusing on holding proper elections should supersede any other issue for the next few months.
