ARBEN MALAJ
Assoc. Prof. Doctor of Economic Sciences
The elections to the European Parliament were ushered in with a great deal of interest, and not only throughout Europe. Following the non-ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, these elections were to be a real test to see what expectations there are in relation to the future of the European Union. The challenge the EU faces is whether it is to be a locomotive charging along its tracks towards becoming an imposing and effective global power, or a vehicle with an impaired motor, that splutters along in fits and starts. The European Parliament is the exclusive institution of the EU directly elected by its citizens. The debate over its restricted powers is at the center of the democratic deficit of the EU institutions. The principle objective is to raise the awareness of European citizens in the importance and efficiency of an EU that has scored yet another failure, in the circumstances of low-turn out to vote.
Ever since 1979, the first year when direct elections to the European Parliament were held turn out for elections has progressively declined, from about 63 to 43 per cent. What is even more disturbing is that the decline in turn-out to vote for the European Parliament is now a definite downward trend. When it is a question of turn-out for elections to the national parliaments of different EU member countries fluctuation is also noted, but, at least there are cases where turn-out is better. Not so in the case of the European Parliament, here, turn-out knows only decline, and the latest elections were no exception, something that would constitute a surge of reaction among the Euro-skeptics and create greater access to the extremist parties, right and left.
After these parliamentary elections, United Europe will come face to face with countless challenges and greater hardships than before. This is a fact which should be a source of concern for
those countries which expect to become members of the EU.
The European Parliament is also organized according to its political spectrum, however, in essence, it operates as an above- party institution. The legislation which the European Parliament passes must be implemented by the 27 member countries, irrespective of the fact which parties govern those countries, to the left or right of the political spectrum.
In short, the victory of right wing forces in the European Parliament cannot be politically utilized in Albania, and even more so, any influence they may exert on our elections in 2009. Albanian public support to the country’s integration into the EU stands at about 83 per cent. This is higher than any other political Majority.
Not only the Albanian Government and/or Parliament, but even any other political or social player which, realistically speaking, supports the country’s EU integration, can afford to misuse the EU parliamentary elections in competition or in internal political squabbles, and even less so in debates on parliamentary elections. Every country’s membership to the EU is conditioned by a unanimous support shown by all the member countries, which means that any party majority in the European Parliament, Left or Right, is insufficient.
The history of EU enlargement is the history of the visions of European leaderships and not the history of individual love hate relationships between European leaders and those of the accession countries.
When the EU admitted three of its poorer countries, Greece, Spain and Portugal, what it offered was the European perspective and hopes to these peoples in the face of the re-instatement of dictatorships which these three countries had experienced.
When the EU adopted the decisions to open its doors to Romania and Bulgaria, even though there were major concerns and hesitations over corruption levels, he aim was to move forward with the mission of the EU to offer hope and the European perspective.
The future of our country within the EU is not conditioned by the fact of who wins EU parliamentary elections. The future of our country in the European Union is not conditioned by the fact that in the majority of its member states either right or left wing parties are in office, but by the quality of the governing of the country.
Our European future is either impeded or accelerated by the quality of our political leaders. This future is conditioned by the standards of democracy, which are based on a check and balance system between three powers; legislative, judicial and executive.
Albania’s European integration will progress swiftly if the June elections respect the standards of a functional European democracy.
Our real integration will be European standards of the independence of the judiciary, the recognition and respect of ownership, the fight against corruption and state capture.
The day when these standards truly function will be the day when, de facto will be a part of United Europe. The leaders of modern Europe, in the decisions they adopt, are guided more by modern and strategic visions, rather than on impressions from a scheduled meeting with the incumbent Prime Minister of the next country in line aspiring to join the EU.
