Gunther Krichbaum, Chairman of the EU Affairs Commission in the German Bundestag, reignited debate in Tirana following his statement declaring that the German parliament will take into account other international reports, in addition to that of the European Commission, before deciding whether to approve opening the accession negotiations or not.
It seems history is repeating itself. In November 2016, following EC’s recommendation to open accession negotiations with Albania, on the condition of the passing of the vetting law, the entire political propaganda machine focused entirely on that: the government had taken every necessary step and negotiations would be open, as soon as vetting started.
However, two weeks before the decision was announced and only three days before Prime Minister Edi Rama met with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Gunther Krichbaum arrived to Tirana. He only held one meeting, with Rama, in the latter’s office. During this meeting, Krichbaum let Rama know that the German CDU/CSU parliamentary majority had set seven conditions to be fulfilled before negotiations could formally commence. After meeting Rama, Krichbaum held a press conference where he publicly announced what the seven conditions were.
Immediately following Krichbaum’s visit, a campaign of attacks and slander was launched against him by Socialist politicians, as well as medias and public personalities affiliated with the majority. The attacks ranged from the claim that Krichbaum’s opinion was irrelevant and the decision was to be exclusively Merkel’s, to the claim that his declarations came as a result of PD lobbying. A number of government friendly media outlets even implied that Krichbaum was taking PD’s side as a result of an affair with a PD member.
However, it soon became clear that Krichbaum was not merely an unremarkable MP, but, the head of a parliamentary commission that would approve or dismiss any decision Merkel reached concerning EU accession. Furthermore, as Krichbaum warned when meeting Rama in Berlin, Merkel also stated that Albania would have to fulfill more or less the same conditions presented by Krichbaum. In December 2016, the European Council failed to approve the opening of accession negotiations with Albania, after Austria’s veto.
Afterwards, the conditions presented by Krichbaum during visit became official criteria set by Germany and other EU Member States for opening accession negotiations with Albania.
If one reads public statements and stances against Krichbaum from two years ago, they seem nearly ridiculous and stand as testament of the large divide that exists between the Western/European and Albanian mentalities regarding politics and governance. Albanian intellectuals, raised under autocratic dictatorships and used to leader worship, think and talk about European politics as if it were Albanian politics.
Their stances speak of a conviction that MPs are mere obedient servants to a supreme leader – in Krichbaum’s case Merkel –, that MPs are personally involved in foreign politics, that MPs can be bought and sold, etc.
Below, find a number of these statements from recent days:
Prime Minister Edi Rama
These foreign voices may express stances convenient for PD’s needs, but they don’t match the general approach of the member states, nor their parliaments. […] Whatever various MPs have to say today is irrelevant, what’s important is what the European Council has to say.
Lulzim [Basha], stop trying to find obscure foreign MPs to insult and block Albania, and start reading the EU recommendations and unblock the vetting law!
Former Minister Spartak Ngjela
It all depends on what Merkel’s stance is, and that stance is the opposite of Krichbaum’s. We have never seen a German Chancellor miss an important vote in the Bundestag.
Socialist MP Erjon Braçe
As far as I know, Ms. Merkel is not only the head of her party, but also the German Chancellor, and from what I’ve been reading, is running for a new term, too. Let’s not occupy ourselves with such people that are so small compared to those who represent Germany, the German government, the German parliament and all else.
Political Analyst Mustafa Nano
There’s plenty of joke European and American politicians, even those who have gone to prison, that have come here and positioned themselves in favor of one side or the other as a result of all kinds of vested interest. Krichbaum is an MP, and we must wait for the Rama-Merkel meeting on Monday.
Journalist Qamil Xhani
What made this last German come here before November 29, the day when the last Nazi German left Shkodra? Perhaps Albanian heartache? No, I don’t believe that would be worth withstanding the dust from Erion Veliaj’s construction work in the Skanderbeg square. Some deep concern for Europe and its troubles? No, seeing as there’s a mannish woman in Berlin called Angela Merkel. Then, why is he here? It is clear from the undiplomatic language he used, that he is threatening the Chancellor from Tirana. They have their own problems in the CDU.
