EU involvement in solving the political crises

TIRANA, March 30 – The local media reported that European Commission Delegation Ambassador Helmuth Lohan paid a visit to main opposition Socialist party leader Edi Rama Monday.
There was no statement or reaction from the EC or the Socialist offices.
Albania seems to be in a stubborn political deadlock despite previous efforts from the Council of Europe and the country’s president to mediate between the two main political parties – governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the Socialists
A week ago Stefan Fuele, EU Enlargement Commission, urged Albanian political parties to resolve their political impasse which might endanger the country’s EU membership bid.
Opposition Socialists set April and its last day as the month of protests asking for the parliament to investigate allegations of fraud in the general election last June, and order a partial re-count if required.
Berisha has ruled out a re-count saying it violates the laws.
Fuele urged Albanian political leaders to resolve the stalemate swiftly. If the current political stalemate were to persist and remain unresolved, the integration process could slow down, Fuele said.
Berisha, whose party controls 75 of parliament’s 140 seats, and Rama, with 65 seats, are still at loggerheads over last year’s general elections.
The EU has made it clear to the member-to-be Albania’s political leaders to work together so that Albania can fully embark on the reforms necessary for the bloc.
With Ambassador Lohan also involved it becomes clear that Brussels has decided this time to exert pressure on Tirana to behave in line with western European democratic standards, or fail in their integration process.
What is not clear is whether Albanian politicians have cleared their minds to achieve a result and resolve their fight. That is hard to believe because one may also wonder if they really want Albania’s integration into the big European family, despite their words.