During her stay in Brussels, in addition to participating in the EPP Parliamentary Assembly, Democratic Party MP Jorida Tabaku also participated in the plenary session of the European Parliamentary Week 2026, on the topic: “Investing in Europe's Future: The Next Multiannual Financial Framework for Resilience, Social Cohesion and Strategic Autonomy.”
In her intervention, Tabaku built the argument on Enrico Letta's strategic report, "Much More Than a Market", using it as a basis to address the link between the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the Growth Fund for the Western Balkans and the necessity of real institutional convergence.
Europe facing fragmentation
Tabaku stressed that Letta's report raises a clear alarm: the Common Market was built for an economic reality of the 80s, while today Europe faces geopolitical competition from the US and China. The problem is not a lack of ambition, but internal fragmentation – in financial markets, in energy, in telecommunications and in industrial capacities.
"If Europe does not grow and unite more deeply, it will be left behind," was the essence of the message that Tabaku conveyed.
She stopped at the proposal for a “Fifth Freedom” – beyond the four classical freedoms – that includes scientific research, innovation, knowledge and education. According to her, this is also essential for candidate countries, which cannot remain simply consumer markets, but must become an active part of the European innovation chain.
European funds are not automatic
The focus of her speech was also the Growth Fund for the Western Balkans, which provides significant financial support for the gradual economic integration of the region into the EU market.
Tabaku was clear: European funds are not automatic transfers. They are conditioned on the implementation of the law, the functioning of institutions, and the respect of European standards.
"Readiness for EU membership is not a political statement. It is institutional readiness," she stressed.
"Countries seeking European funds must respect European values. The rule of law is not a paragraph in a report, but a prerequisite for every euro invested."
In this context, Tabaku underlined that economic convergence without institutional convergence is an illusion. An economy that does not guarantee legal certainty, fair competition and a real fight against corruption cannot effectively absorb EU funds.
“Freedom to stay” – banning immigration as an economic necessity
Referring to Letta's concept of "Freedom to Stay", Tabaku directly connected this idea to the reality of Albania and the Western Balkans.
Free movement is a fundamental right of the EU, but the single market fails if citizens of the periphery are forced to leave to find a decent job.
A successful expansion, according to her, must invest in quality public services, education, human capital and support for local SMEs, so that young people have reasons to build the future in their country.
Capital Markets Union and strategic autonomy
Tabaku also supported the call for a true Capital Markets Union, recalling that Europe holds over 33 trillion euros in private savings, but loses around 300 billion euros each year that are shifted to the US due to financial fragmentation.
Without a savings and investment union, Europe cannot finance the green transition, digital infrastructure or the defense industry.
Along the same lines, she emphasized the importance of foreign investment screening (FDI screening) as a protective instrument for economic security and to avoid the infiltration of capital with geopolitical interests that undermine the common market.
