The Chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, during his speech at the IDU forum in Zagreb, emphasized that the process of Albania's integration into the European Union must be entirely based on merit, while identifying several main obstacles that, according to him, are holding the country back from this objective.
He thanked the summit organizers and underlined that Albanians' support for EU and NATO integration remains at the highest levels. However, he argued that the integration process has become uncertain and is being delayed due to internal factors.
According to Berisha, EU integration means more rights for citizens, more freedom, strengthening the rule of law, as well as increased prosperity and security. 'This process must and must be based on merit, like the model that successful countries have followed,' Berisha said.
"Thank you very much. I would like to thank once again the organizers of this summit, of this conference.
As you may have seen, from what Dr. Bashkoff presented, Albania's support for EU and NATO integration is at its highest percentage.
However, Albania's EU integration process has become uncertain and is increasingly being pushed back due to internal reasons.
In my opinion and that of my party, since I speak on behalf of the opposition, the integration process means more human rights, more freedom to guarantee to our citizens, the functioning of the rule of law, more prosperity and security.
But the process should, and must, be completely merit-based.
Only a merit-based process, as was the case in this great country that is a model of success, can be beneficial for the citizens of Albania.
I think that at the moment, the main obstacles to Albania's integration into the EU are electoral autocracy.
Last month, V-Dem declared Albania an electoral autocracy.
Secondly, even worse than that: Albania is the only narco-state in Europe.
Drugs in Albania have an extraordinary power. Let me briefly say how it is viewed in Europe - I couldn't understand it.
But if you look at Europe's relationship with the Albanian currency, you will find the strongest depreciation in the world of the euro and the US dollar in Albania. The strongest! In Mexico, in 10 years it is 17%, in Albania in 10 years it is 32%. 32%!
But what does this mean?
This means a severe blow to exports.
This means a serious blow to production.
This means a construction index three times higher than the European Union average.
But this also means that the lowest-paid people in Europe pay the highest prices, like in Munich and Paris, for housing.
Because—I'm just talking about the economy—in fact, they are the main decision makers.
The third main factor is that there are some very strange initiatives, like the Belgrade-Tirana one, which goes in the opposite direction to EU integration.
From the very beginning of these regional initiatives of Aleksandar Vučić and Edi Rama, they began with the project of changing borders. In fact, behind it was hidden the division of Kosovo.
Fortunately, even though they held the crisis hostage for many years, this idea was rejected.
Then they demanded the opening of borders at a time when the European Union had presented various initiatives for our six countries to prepare for EU integration.
They created these tripartite alliances: Belgrade, Skopje, and Tirana.
They brought back some nuances of the Cold War and ultimately failed.
Now, the latest strange initiative is the proposal in an open letter signed by Rama and Vučić to the European Union to accept this country with a second-rate integration.
Such a procedure does not exist in the European Union.
Therefore, I personally think that the process should be based on merit, but the obstacles are both internal and regional.
The most fundamental process for a democratic country is elections and the possibility of rotation of power.
If you block this, democracy will fall further and further. If you arrest two leaders of the main opposition parties and put a third on trial, without any legal grounds, in an election year, this happened in Albania and Tunisia. Both did this.
If you give 2.1 billion euros, write off fines and interest two days before the elections to buy votes, then there are no more elections.
If he gives 100 euros to every pensioner for votes, if he decrees 29,000 hectares of cannabis plantations, where for us, one plant brings in almost 1,000 euros in income, then it means he is doing everything to turn the elections into a farce.
Without choices, there is no future.
Therefore, in 10 years, more than 1,099,000 Albanians have left for the Schengen area alone, not counting other regions.
So, I think the most fundamental process for my nation needs to be restored.
Thank you!", Berisha said in his speech.
