A message to Tirana is sent by European Parliament, making respect for the rights of the Greek national minority as an inviolable condition for Albania’s accession process.

Yesterday, the European Parliament’s Plenary Session voted by a large majority in favor of the report on Albania for 2025, which “incorporated the amendments tabled by New Democracy and EPP MEP, Frenis Beleris in collaboration with EPP MEPs, Vangelis Meimarakis and Andrey Kovachev,” as stated in the relevant announcement.

It is also emphasized that “the amendments highlighted the fundamental shortcomings in Albania regarding the rule of law, human and minority rights, while there is a clear reference to the Greek national minority for the first time in the history of the report,” and it is emphasized that “the recognition of the historical presence of the Greek national minority in Albania, as well as its property rights, is now the official position of the European Parliament.”

According to the press release, the report:

  • calls on Albania to make decisive progress in the initial registration of properties and the fair, generally accepted compensation, by improving the transparency of the state land registry and the quality of the cadastral data in the real estate registry, and to ensure respect for the right to a fair trial and the right to effective judicial protection in cases of expropriation and property confiscation
  • recalls that the judiciary continues to face political pressure and threats that risk undermining the independence of the judiciary
  • parliamentary immunity is part of Albania’s constitutional framework, designed to ensure the proper functioning of democratic institutions, while emphasizing that any relevant decisions must be taken strictly in accordance with constitutional provisions and established legal procedures, without political interference and without undue delay
  • calls for enhanced transparency, conflict-of-interest checks, risk assessments regarding integrity, and targeted preventive measures in high-risk sectors—particularly in the areas of public procurement and concession contracts, licensing and inspections, as well as construction and spatial planning
  • expresses concern over the serious irregularities identified by the European Anti-Fraud Office during the implementation of the EU Pre-Accession Assistance MechanismEU Pre-Accession Assistance Mechanism for Rural Development (IPARD II) in Albania
  • emphasizes the importance of ensuring full transparency, accountability, and effective control mechanisms in the use of EU financial assistance, in order to safeguard the EU’s financial interests and maintain public trust

It should be noted that “during his speech in the Plenary, Mr. Beleris, after criticizing Commissioner Kos for his reluctance to raise these issues,” emphasized:

“The report we are discussing recognizes both Albania’s desire to become a full member of the EU and the European Parliament’s willingness to support it.

Today, Albanian citizens are protesting the lack of democracy, the lack of prosperity, the violation of property rights, the manipulation of the justice system, the government’s collusion with organized crime, and ultimately, the exodus of young people from the country. Of course, these ills disproportionately burden minorities, particularly the Greek minority, which is the largest.

The suppression of reality, the whitewashing of the situation, and—in many cases—the identification of Commissioner Kos with the Albanian prime minister, is interpreted by a large part of Albanian society not as support for the Albanian people in realizing their European dream, but as support for Rama.

We must be clear. Yes to accession, without any concessions on the European acquis.”