Albania criticised for EU-related referendum
European Commission attacks use of a referendum to break an impasse in parliament.
The Albanian government has been criticised by the European Commission for its plan to push forward its bid to become a member of the European Union via a referendum.
Štefan Füle, the European commissioner for enlargement, said on Saturday (2 March) that a referendum “cannot be a way to bypass the lack of dialogue and constructive co-operation between the government and opposition on the EU agenda”.
“Opting for a referendum in this case is not the way…cross-party consensus is built,” Füle said. He said that the decision went “against the spirit of inclusiveness”.
In a tweet, Füle wrote: “Albania: delivering on conditions for candidate status – from one extreme to another one?”
Albania submitted an application for membership of the EU in April 2009, but had to wait until last October before the Commission recommended that EU member states recognise Albania as a candidate for membership. That followed agreement on a set of reforms that won the backing of the opposition Socialist Party of Albania (SPA), including changes to the electoral code and limits on parliamentary immunity.
The Commission’s recommendation, however, was conditional on Albania approving laws on the judiciary and public administration, as well as the rules of procedure for parliament. In Saturday’s statement, Füle placed special emphasis on the need for agreement on parliamentary rules of procedures.
The consensus behind reform in 2012 has since disappeared, preventing the legislation receiving the qualified majority required in parliament.
The political impasse has its roots in parliamentary elections in June 2009 that produced a coalition government led by the centre-right Democratic Party of Albania (DPA) under Sali Berisha.
Click Here: pinko shop cheap
The SPA’s leader, Edi Rama, claimed that the DPA had stolen the elections and boycotted parliament for a time. The situation worsened again in January 2011, when security forces shot dead four opposition demonstrators. Local elections in May 2011 produced a victory for the SPA, but Rama again accused the DPA of irregularities.
Neither election was judged to have fully met international standards, a problem that last year’s reform of the electoral code was intended to address.
However, the political tensions and the government’s decision to bypass parliament increase the chances of the referendum becoming another flashpoint. No date for the referendum has been announced. The volatility of the political situation is compounded by the ongoing trial of those accused of the killings. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for 23 June.
Füle has met a range of Albanian politicians in recent weeks, including Rama and Ilir Meta, the leader of the junior partner in the government, the centre-left Socialist Movement for Integration.