Political dialogue and co-operation in Albania is crucial for the country's EU integration process

Both the Socialists and Democrats Group (S&D) and the European Peoples Party (EPP) in the European Parliament have been continuous supporters of the EU integration process with Albania and feel engaged with this process. In this respect, the constructive and sustainable political dialogue between the ruling majority and the opposition, together with the political debates taking place in the parliament, are vital for this process.

Following the stalemate in the dialogue between the major political groups in Albania and the boycott of the parliament by the opposition Democratic Party, the S&Ds and EPP have entrusted their representatives, Knut Fleckenstein and Eduard Kukan, to help the ruling majority and the opposition re-establish the political dialogue and encourage the opposition to end the boycott and reassume its work in the parliament.

Members of the European Parliament Knut Fleckenstein and Eduard Kukan have agreed to co-operate and support the respective political leaders in Tirana in finding a solution to the recent stalemate and setting out an agreement on co-operation within the framework of the constitution and political institutions. Both MEPs will meet with Albanian political leaders in Tirana in the upcoming days with the same message:

• Encouraging the opposition to return to the parliament, re-establishing political dialogue and participation in parliamentary work;

• Encouraging all political parties to engage in the process leading to decriminalisation of the parliament and other public institutions. 

Mr Knut Fleckenstein will be in Albania on Thursday, 18 December and Friday, 19 December, while Mr Eduard Kukan will follow and visit on Sunday, 21 December and Monday, 22 December.
                                                                            

Knut Fleckenstein – Vice-president of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and rapporteur for Albania in the European Parliament
Contact details: knut.fleckenstein@ep.europa.eu; Tel: +32 (0)2 28 45548

Eduard Kukan – Member of the Group of the European People's Party (EPP) and shadow rapporteur for Albania in the European Parliament
Contact details: eduard.kukan@ep.europa.eu; Tel: +32 (0)2 28 47216