A3-0046/94

Resolution on relations between the European Community and Albania

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motions for resolutions by:

(a)Mr Tsimas on relations between the EEC and Albania (B3-0002/90)

(b)Mrs Muscardini and others on the situation in Albania (B3-0238/90)

-having regard to its resolution of 22 February 1991 on relations between the European Community and Albania,

-having regard to its earlier resolutions on Albania, particularly its decision of 11 March 1992 to declare significant the trade and cooperation agreement between the EEC and Albania and its opinion of 17 September 1992 on the proposal for a decision on the conclusion of the agreement between the EEC and Albania on trade and commercial and economic cooperation,

-having regard to Parliament's missions to observe the elections in Albania in 1991 (PE 151.007) and 1992 (PE 200.640) and on the first and second EP/Albania interparliamentary meetings (Tirana, 14-17 July 1992, PE 202.153, and Strasbourg, 25-27 May 1993, PE 205.898),

-having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security (A3-0046/94),

A.welcoming the fact that it has so far been able to make a relevant ongoing contribution to the move towards democracy and greater prosperity in Albania,

B.believing that communist totalitarianism has now been finally quashed in Albania but concerned nonetheless that the lure of authoritarianism could jeopardize the success of the democratization process and of Albania's integration into Europe's democratic institutions, which is its natural goal,

C.aware of the close link between economic and social achievements and confidence in democratic politics,

D.whereas Albania can make an essential contribution towards peaceful coexistence and integration in the Balkan region,

E.whereas the leader of the Albanian Socialist Party which won 54% of the vote in the last local elections has been imprisoned by the Berisha regime, having been charged with corruption during his premiership, despite the fact that the public prosecutors of Tirana, A. Dots and S. Kokona, refused to initiate criminal proceedings against him and resigned,

1.Reaffirms its support for democratization in Albania, which it hopes will be achieved without adverse repercussions and disturbances and points out that one of the main priorities is the establishment of a true constitutional state based on a clear separation of powers, with a properly trained, politically independent judiciary;

2.Believes that the adoption of a new constitution and a new criminal code (in which, it is to be hoped, the death penalty would be abolished) would be major steps forward and points out that the existence of a viable political opposition forms part of the very essence of democracy;

3.Welcomes the measures taken by Albania to demilitarize society by reforming and cutting the size of the armed forces and the police force;

4.Notes the recommendations made by Mr Van der Stoel, the CSCE High Commissioner on national minorities, to the Albanian Government, including the importance of creating a special office for minority questions, the possibility for members of the minority to initiate complaints, restitution of, or compensation for, property belonging to the churches, and the need for effective protection of the population against crime, while avoiding excessive or disproportionate use of force by the police;

5.Emphasizes the crucial importance of an effective guarantee of freedom and pluralism in the media, of respect for the religious, cultural and linguistic rights of all Albanian citizens (and minority groups in particular) and of tolerance and peaceful coexistence between people of different religious persuasions, and with minority linguistic and cultural groups;

6.Appreciates the generosity and efficiency shown by various governmental organizations (including 'Pellicano' in Italy and 'Pyrrhus' in Greece) and non-governmental organizations, which have played a decisive part in bringing Albania out of a serious crisis;

7.Calls on the Community and its Member States to guarantee Albania further long-term aid, which needs to be substantial since the period of emergency will be followed by a period requiring aid for lasting development (particularly in respect of infrastructure for industry, agriculture, the energy supply system, tourism, services and the banking, education and health systems, and in the training of the police and civil service);

8.Believes that the next step in relations between the European Union and Albania is best constructed within the framework of an Association agreement and invites the Council and Commission to come forward to Parliament as soon as possible with proposals designed to secure this end, in accordance with the same principles and conditions applied to other central and eastern European countries;

9.Believes that Albania represents an ideal testing-ground for the 'sustainable development' advocated at the UNCED meeting in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and calls on the international institutions (IMF, World Bank, OECD, UNDP, etc.) to act accordingly by guaranteeing a sustainable social, environmental and cultural impact and concentrating on projects which, by virtue of their size, their impact on employment, the know-how they transfer, their environmental impact and their capacity to generate ancillary activities and encourage creativity, will make the most of the country's natural and human resources;

10.Hopes that a substantial proportion of the aid granted to Albania will be used in an impartial, pluralistic manner for aims and projects connected with the democratization of the country;

11.Reiterates its view that respect for democratic principles and political freedoms in Albania is an essential precondition for any aid or bilateral or multilateral cooperation;

12.Believes the Community should do its utmost to support and encourage bilateral and multilateral cooperation initiatives involving the general public so as to allow the Albanian people to renew their acquaintance with the rest of Europe, from which they have been kept apart for so long;

13.Calls on the Community and its Member States to promote, in particular, initiatives allowing young Albanians to emigrate legally for a given period of time within the framework of educational, vocational training and continuing training programmes and calls on local and regional authorities, universities and other institutions to set up twinning and exchange programmes along these lines;

14.Believes it essential for the Union to deepen and broaden its political dialogue with Albania, given the importance of the country and of the geopolitical region to which it belongs;

15.Believes that political and economic stability in Albania would be assisted by membership of the Council of Europe and hopes that this will be possible in the near future;

16.Appreciates the work conducted to date by the Commission representatives in Tirana and calls for the permanent delegation now being set up to be given the means to match the political importance of its duties;

17.Calls on the Albanian authorities to continue to do all they can to bring peace and stability to the Balkans and urges the Community and its Member States to monitor respect for the human, civil and political rights of all ethnic groups - including those of Albanian origin - in the region who are denied their rights or are oppressed, as are the Albanians of Kosovo;

18.Calls on the Albanian Government to explain why the leader of the largest opposition party has been arrested and demands that he be released forthwith until the courts deliver a judgment on the accusations brought against him;

19.Stresses the importance of good relations between Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and believes that the development of the European Union's relations with both countries should take account of this;

20.Calls on Albania to maintain constantly closer relations with all Member States of the European Union, in particular Greece, guaranteeing full respect for human rights and the rights of minorities, including their right to education and religious freedom in accordance with CSCE principles and provisions; recalls its resolutions on these matters;

21.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council and to the parliament and government of the Republic of Albania.