Bardhi: Integration Is Not a Political Slogan — Albania Does Not Become European Just by Adopting Laws

The head of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, Gazment Bardhi, has criticized the way Albania’s European integration process is unfolding, declaring that progress in negotiations with the European Union has not, in his view, been accompanied by the democratic transformation of institutions.

During his speech, Bardhi accused the government of violating the opposition’s constitutional right to oversee the executive. According to him, over the course of a year the Prime Minister has not accepted a single request for interpellation or accountability from MPs in Parliament.

“Albania’s European integration is and must be a process of transformation of the Albanian state. Unfortunately, even though Albania is in an advanced phase of negotiations, this process does not appear to be accompanied by the democratic transformation of institutions in the country,” Bardhi said.

He said the opposition has submitted six requests for the establishment of investigative commissions, but none of them has been accepted by the parliamentary majority. Bardhi stressed that the opposition has addressed the Constitutional Court and that, according to him, its decisions granting the opposition the right to establish investigative commissions have still not been implemented.

“For us as the opposition, Parliament must be the institution that ensures laws are implemented, the government is overseen, and European reforms are inclusive and do not remain only on paper. The European Parliament has noted concern over the weakening of parliamentary oversight of the executive. This is a concern we should have addressed immediately, but that has not happened,” he said.

Bardhi also dwelt on the decisions of the Constitutional Court, mentioning as the latest case last week’s decision regarding the status of magistrates. According to him, the parliamentary majority has re-adopted a law that has been annulled three times by the Constitutional Court.

“Albania will not become European just by adopting laws with European names. Albania becomes European when institutions function according to European standards,” declared the head of the DP parliamentary group.