EU wil Albanië helpen met democratisering (en)

The European Union takes note of the final report by the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission on the parliamentary elections held on 28 June in Albania and welcomes the assessment that the elections met most OSCE commitments, even if the elections did not fully realise Albania’s potential to adhere to the highest standards for democratic elections.

The report stresses that the elections demonstrated tangible progress, in particular with regard to the voter registration and identification process, the legal framework, voting, counting and adjudication of election disputes. It notes also the unfortunate politicisation of technical aspects of the process, including the vote count and tabulation, as well as violations observed during the election campaign.

The EU emphasises the importance of ensuring that shortcomings in the elections are examined, lessons are drawn and that the recommendations included in the report are followed up by the Government and all parties concerned.

The EU encourages all political parties in Albania to pursue a constructive political dialogue. In particular, maintaining a permanent dialogue in Parliament is a key element of democracy. Free and fair elections are an essential requirement to fulfil the criteria for EU membership. The EU is committed to continue to provide support to Albania in this important process, helping Albania to move forward towards European integration.