EU Ambassador to Albania, Luigi Soreca, urged the upcoming Albanian Parliament to focus on justice and electoral reform in order to facilitate Albania’s integration into the European Union.
In an interview for Albanian newspaper Panorama, Soreca said that the final OSCE/ODIHR report declared that the April 25 elections were orderly and well-organized.
Nevertheless, Soreca drew attention to the need for further electoral reform to address vote buying and voter intimidation.
He also confirmed that justice reform continues to be a priority for the European Union and pledged a further €9 million in funding for the project.
Asked about the “Open Balkan” initiative, Soreca also reiterated that the EU welcomes regional cooperation, but emphasized that Albania and other Western Balkan countries should be focusing their energies on creating a common regional market under the umbrella of the Berlin Process.
Finally, Soreca all parties in Parliament to use EU integration as a framework for collaboration, given that 90% of Albanians support EU integration.
The new Parliament will convene this Friday at 10 a.m., kickstarting Edi Rama and the Socialist Party’s third consecutive mandate in office.
