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The head of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group in the Assembly, MP Taulant Balla, has asked opposition MPs to cooperate for the good of Albania and to adopt agreements and laws that serve the country's EU integration process.
Balla did not leave without stinging them, saying that many of them expected today that the COELA group would not pass the IBAR report for approval to the ambassadors of EU member states for Albania, underlining that they had also had their contribution, so they should continue this cooperation as they did with the resolution last week that they voted unanimously.
Balla said that the report received 27 votes, while adding that he believed that if this political will among the forces continued, Albania could achieve membership as early as 2027.
" Leave the party's orders, serve Shkodra and Albania, vote for this agreement. At a historic moment and day like today. I know that many of you, not all, expected that the working group on enlargement and countries in the EU accession process, COELA, would not pass the interim milestone report today, they did. 27 votes in favor. This is good news for everyone, for Albania. I am not one of those who say that this is only our contribution, there are others who have their contributions, there are hundreds of experts and representatives of various institutions, we have a lot of work ahead of us", said Balla.
He illustrated the process with the example of Montenegro, emphasizing that Albania still had a long road ahead. But he added that they, as members of this legislature, are at a historic moment, as they have the opportunity to serve the country.
"We were also with colleagues from Montenegro, who told us that in the last two months alone, at least 200 laws have been passed, most of which were related to the approximation of legislation for EU integration. We have the great honor of being the representatives of the people at this great historical moment. We must respond to this historical period that has fallen to us as a great honor. From today until 2027, they must close the EU membership process. We must all have confidence. We are within the calendar and we have based our ambition on the expectations coming from the Commission and the member states", continued the socialist MP.
Balla also welcomed the proposal and official position of German Chancellor Merz and the German government on the phased integration process of the Balkan countries.
He invited the opposition to also continue cooperation as they did on the resolution and most recently in today's session on the Rules of Procedure.
"I want to salute and thank Chancellor Merz and the German government for their public position, for this historic leadership. I want to salute and thank the now official position. Good news for this positioning in the historic leadership. In the spirit of that resolution that we approved last week by all the deputies, I thank you, in the common spirit that we all came together, and we are continuing this spirit with the changes to the Rules of Procedure," he said.
Regarding the investment agreement for the Alps in the Shkodra region and the 100 million euro financing for the project, Balla also invited his opposition colleagues to vote in this framework of cooperation that serves the northern city and the development of the country.
He even made comparisons of investments between the two governments over time.
"It rarely happens that we are here and discuss a draft law that leads to a single municipality receiving 100 million euros. This proves that this government has Shkodra, like other municipalities, as a fundamental priority, 1.3 billion euros invested in Shkodra by our governments in these years. And 1.3 billion euros is several times your budget during your government. We never compare ourselves with you, never, because we compare ourselves. These first years that Shkodra gave the PS a vote of confidence were enough to understand how that municipality was taken hostage. This is a nationwide project, with the Investment Bank and the German KFV going towards a strategic investment to develop integrated tourism. We aim to build a developed corridor that will bring the Alps down to the Adriatic and Shëngjin, Velipojë and beyond. This is a historic investment, which guarantees road infrastructure that would create access to the Alps and the Adriatic, the spaces urban, public transport, environmental and cultural infrastructure and tourism for beautiful Shkodra and the connection with the highlands. You must join us in voting for this. We are ready for anything, when it comes to more of these investments and for the good of Albania”, he declared in the Assembly.
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