In a statement, signatory members of this group have expressed support for Albania’s citizens and students, who are seeking accountability, environmental protection, dignified conditions in higher education and a future for young people in their country.
According to the authors, the Flamingoʹ movement has been organising peaceful protests against corruption and the way the decisions are made for the country’s future, while since mid-October, protests have joined many students who have raised concerns about the cost of education, university situation, and lack of perspective for their generation.
These requirements deserve serious consideration and are close to the fundamental democratic values of the European Union and requirements for Albania’s EU membership, the statement said.
Members of B EPAG has condemned violence during recent protests and what they describe as a disproportional response to the law bodies.
The response of authorities should remain proportional, while allegations of excessive use of force against protesters, journalists and minors participating in the protests should be investigated independently, they have written.
The authors have also expressed concern over the government’s stated measures after the riots, assessing that they appear to target vengeance rather than justice.
In the statement, they have stressed that they agree with the European Commission that discontent in a membership candidate country should be addressed through constructive dialogue.
Referring to the previous engagement of European representatives in Albania, the authors have said the visits of European Parliament members to Tirana during the summer contributed to the protest concerns involved in the European debate.
They have also cited the position of Commissioner Kos, who, according to the statement, has stressed that environmental protection and democratic treatment of protests are part of Albania’s commitments in the membership process.
Integration in the EU should not simply be a negotiated process between governments; it should also be a process in which citizens’ voices are heard and their demands for democratic accountability are taken seriously, the statement said.
According to authors, the government’s refusal to address these requirements significantly, along with confirmed cases of excessive use of police violence, has made it more difficult to develop a credible dialogue.
A literal process requires a facilitator who can trust both sides. The EU is the only reliable actor who can play this role and has a positive history in this direction, group members have written.
They have estimated that the European Union has the opportunity and responsibility to help find a solution to the political crisis in Albania before it escalates further.
In conclusion, B EPAG has called on the EU to use instruments available to facilitate dialogue between the government and representatives of students, protesters and civil society.
The credibility of the enlargement process depends on whether the EU stands at the side of citizens who demand exactly the democratic standards it asks candidate countries to respect, says the European Policy Consultative Group’s statement.
Source Layer: RTKLive
