The European Parliament voted for the Commission's report on Albania which recognises that the Greek national minority in the country maintains its strong historical presence, especially in the south while calling on the neighbouring country to ensure protection of the right to property. The MEP, Freddy Belleris, points out that for the first time the report recognises both the historical presence and the property rights of the Greek minority.
The plenary session of the European Parliament voted on the Commission's report on Albania for 2025 with an enlarged majority while the amendments tabled by the Member of the European Parliament and the PPE, Fredis Beleris, were incorporated in collaboration with MEPs of the PPE, Vangelis Meimarakis and Andrey Kovachev.
The amendments highlighted Albania's main pathogens in matters of the rule of law, human and minority rights, while there is a clear mention of the Greek national minority for the first time in the history of the report. The recognition of the historical presence of the Greek national minority in Albania and its assets are now an official position of the European Parliament.
In addition, the report calls on Albania to achieve decisive progress in the first registration of property and fair, commonly accepted compensation, improving the transparency of the state cadastral and the quality of the real estate register's cadastral data, and to ensure respect for the right to fair trial and the right to effective judicial protection in cases of expropriation and removal of property.
At the same time it recalls that the judiciary is still facing political pressures and threats that pose the risk of undermining the independence of justice in Albania.
Parliamentary immunity is part of Albania's constitutional framework designed to ensure the proper functioning of democratic institutions, while the report stresses that any relevant decisions should be taken strictly in accordance with constitutional provisions and established legal procedures, without political interference and without unnecessary delay.
The report calls for enhanced transparency, conflict of interest controls, risk assessments for integrity and targeted preventive measures in high risk areas, in particular in the areas of public procurement and concessions, licensing and inspections, as well as construction and spatial planning.
In addition, it expresses concern about the serious irregularities identified by the European Anti-Fraud Office in implementing the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPARD II) programme in Albania and stresses that it is important to ensure full transparency, accountability and effective control mechanisms in the use of EU financial assistance in order to ensure the EU's financial interests and to maintain the confidence of citizens
During his plenary speech, Mr Beleris said that "the report we are discussing recognises both Albania's willingness to become a full member of the EU and the European Parliament to support it. Today Albanian citizens protest the lack of democracy, the lack of prosperity, the violation of property, the manipulation of justice, the embrace of government with organised crime, and ultimately the abandonment of the country by young people. Of course, these diseases disproportionately burden minorities and especially the Greek which is the largest.".
"The suppression of reality, the beauty of the situation and the identification in many cases, Commissioner Kosh with the Albanian Prime Minister, is interpreted by much of Albanian society not as support for the Albanian people to implement their European dream, but as support for Rama. We need to be clear. Yes to membership, without discounts on the European acquis", he completed.
The report was adopted by 483 votes in favour and 103 were against and 70 abstained.