Establishment of Integration Council postponed

TIRANA, Sept. 18 – Albania’s governing Socialist-led majority has postponed the creation of the Integration Council as proposed by the Integration Minister Klajda Gjosha, following disagreements with the country’s political opposition.
The EU granted Albania candidate status in June, setting the Adriatic republic on the path to membership. Albania first applied to join the EU in 2009, but had been rejected three times due to the slow pace of its economic and political reforms.
Gjosha had proposed the creation of the National Council of the European Integration in line with the same steps taken in other countries before applying for full membership in the bloc.
But the opposition reacted negatively saying that such a body should not be playing the same role as the integration commission operating in the parliament, which the opposition heads.
On Tuesday, the Socialists said they postponed the creation of council waiting for the opposition participation – which the Socialists say should play a key role. They also offered the opposition co-leadership of the proposed council.
The opposition has boycotted parliament since July.
Majlinda Bregu, a Democratic lawmaker and former integration minister, said that the leadership of such a new body should be left to the opposition in a sign that the government is ready to be kept in check.