EU asks for electoral, other reforms

TIRANA, March 15 – European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on Thursday urged Albanian authorities and politicians to immediately start the electoral reforms to reach the required democratic standards and continue further reforms in its road of integration toward the bloc. Rehn, visiting the country along a tour, said that following shortcomings in the last month’s local polls and by-election earlier this month Albania’s main political groupings need to start the electoral reform. “Democracy requires the basic consensus between the basic groups of the democratic game, requires a cultural progress in the democratic strategy,” said Rehn at a news conference. “Last month’s local elections showed that the political leaders need to make further efforts to improve the way they cooperate.” Rehn urged the country to compile a proper civil registry which has been a continuous source of manipulation in post-communist Albania.
International observers considered Feb. 18 local polls “a missed opportunity to conduct elections fully in line with international commitments and standards for democratic elections,” saying they had found procedural shortcomings that disenfranchised many eligible voters. Since communism ended in Albania in 1990, its elections have consistently fallen short of international standards. The commissioner did not say explicitly whether holding of the Feb. 18 local polls had harmed the country’s plans for establishing closer relations with the European Union and NATO but added that “presidential elections (in June) will be a chance for the Albanian politicians to show their citizens and those of the EU how they can work together.” Albania’s president is elected in the parliament with three-fifth of the 140 parliamentarians. The governing coalition of Prime Minister Sali Berisha does not have the 84 votes which makes it obligatory a consensus with the opposition, like the election of the existing president in 2002.
The tiny western Balkan country signed last year the Stabilization and Association Agreement pre-membership deal which is considered a first step toward membership though it has set no clear date. “Making a success of the SAA and moving closer to EU requires further reforms,” said Rehn. “Other things that are needed include reforms that address corruption, organized crime, law and economic development.”
Rehn, who met with all top Albanian officials, also discussed on Kosova expressing the bloc’s support to the Martti Ahtisaari’s plan for its future status and also hailing Albania’s constructive role during the negotiations.