EU integration conference: Peleshi says engaging communities and citizens is essential for enlargement success

Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi, in his address at the conference with representatives of Albanian institutions and the European Parliament, held as part of discussions on the European integration process and Albania’s advancement toward European Union membership, focused on the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, but also on the need to grow the support of citizens of member states for the European Union’s enlargement process.

Peleshi stressed that the enlargement process cannot rely on political institutions alone, but must be accompanied by direct communication with the citizens and communities of member states.

“Enlargement must be won in family conversations around the table in every EU city. We must persistently continue parliamentary diplomacy and joint activities, especially with the direct engagement of citizens. Building bridges with citizens and including communities are an indispensable condition for the success of this project. Ratification of EU accession will depend directly on public support in member states,” Peleshi declared.

The Speaker described the conference as part of a packed period of European activities in Parliament, listing several initiatives held in recent weeks.

“This conference caps a whirlwind European month in Parliament. Over the past week we opened our doors to citizens at the Forum in the EP, consolidated the parliamentary role at the 22nd meeting of the Joint Stabilization and Association Committee, deepened dialogue with the ambassadors of eight countries, friends of the Western Balkans, and so on,” he said.

Peleshi said Albania has received encouraging support during this process, but underlined that joint work remains necessary to grow citizens’ support in member states for EU enlargement.

“We have received encouraging support. EU enlargement has gained broad support in member states. We will need to work even harder together to grow public support for enlargement in all member states,” the Parliament Speaker declared.

Peleshi went on to reiterate the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and citizen engagement in the integration process, arguing that public support in member states will be a significant element in the further stages of Albania’s EU membership. According to him, communicating with citizens and building bridges between communities must be part of efforts to make the enlargement process a project understood and supported by the European public.