Jorida Tabaku at the EU–Albania Stabilisation and Association Committee: Parliament Is Weakening Its Role in the European Integration Process

Democratic Party MP Jorida Tabaku, member and vice-chair of the EU–Albania Parliamentary Stabilisation and Association Committee, raised concerns over the weakening of Parliament’s role in the legislative process and on the path of European integration.

During the committee’s regular meeting, held in Tirana, Tabaku reaffirmed the opposition and the Democratic Party’s full support for Albania’s EU membership. She stressed that the opposition will continue to support this process, but also to denounce deviations from European standards.

“We have been and are supporters of the European integration process, but at the same time we have been critical whenever this process has gone off track,” Tabaku declared.

According to her, although integration must be all-inclusive, in practice a deep gap is observed between the laws adopted on paper and their implementation.

Tabaku focused in particular on the deterioration of the legislative process. She stated that Parliament, after first being turned into a “notary of the government,” is now also used as a promoter of commissioned initiatives, formally presented by MPs to avoid public consultation, parliamentary debate, and ordinary legal procedures.

“We are seeing initiatives presented by majority MPs with short deadlines, without hearing interest groups and without developing a healthy debate. In this way, the government avoids responsibility and parliamentary oversight,” she said.

The Democratic MP stressed that this practice has excluded citizens, trade unions, and interest groups from decision-making. According to her, the institution that should protect the public interest has become a promoter of minority interests, violating the law and the spirit of the Constitution.

Tabaku also referred to the European Commission’s 2026 rule-of-law report, stressing that European partners have flagged ineffective consultations and last-minute initiatives by MPs — practices that weaken transparency and parliamentary oversight.

The DP MP also stated that the opposition has raised concerns over at least 17 initiatives it considers “commissioned laws.” Among them she listed the law on strategic investments, amendments to the law on protected areas, and the so-called “Mountain Package.”

In conclusion, Tabaku focused on the restriction of opposition rights and the lack of bipartisan reforms. She mentioned the rejection of the opposition’s request to establish a parliamentary investigative commission on the KAYO case, as well as the unilateral development of electoral and territorial reforms.

“European integration cannot be just a technical process of the government. It requires a functional parliament, real oversight of the executive, respect for the opposition, and consensual reforms,” Tabaku stressed.

She expressed hope that the practices of excluding the opposition will belong to the past and that Parliament will create the necessary space for constitutional and consensual reforms, in the service of European integration and the interest of Albanian citizens.