Socialist MP Fatmir Xhafaj declared in Parliament that Albania's European integration process should be treated as a national objective and not as an issue for daily political clashes.
During discussions on the resolution on the country's integration into the European Union, Xhafaj stated that the standards required by the EU are not only related to the adoption of laws, but also to the way institutions and democracy function in practice.
According to him, the European Union values the institutional culture, the seriousness of the institutions and the ability of the political forces for dialogue and cooperation. The socialist MP considered the agreement between the parties for a joint resolution positive, emphasizing that Albanian politics should not treat integration as “a small battle of the day”. He called for political debates to focus on concrete responsibilities, but without calling into question the country’s strategic orientation towards Europe.
"The EU does not only evaluate us for the number and quality of laws we adopt, but also for the real functioning of democracy, our institutional culture, our ability for dialogue and the seriousness of the institutions. The agreement on this joint resolution is a positive thing, because we do not have the right to treat this process as a small battle of daily politics. Ultimately, negotiations can be opened by a government, chapters can be negotiated by a majority, but Albania enters the EU. Let us debate strongly about responsibilities, but let us not delegitimize the country's strategic orientation. European integration, European Albania is a project of national hope. It is the effort of a nation to live with European dignity in the European family", said Xhafaj.
