The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament talked on the report on Albania, with some MPs supporting the opening of talks while criticizing the government for media, environment and human rights.

The draft European Parliament report on Albania was prepared by rapporteur Isabel Santos.

The draft report congratulates Albania on some achievements, but estimates that the fight against organized crime is at an insufficient level, while requesting that the extradition of the Turk Harun Çelik by the Albanian police in unclear circumstances be investigated as a possible violation of the right to asylum.

The report also condemns the climate of fear, denigrating campaigns against journalists and expresses "grave concern" over the government's legal initiatives on media law.

The draft report urges the government to prioritize improving the living conditions of Albanians as the only way to stop emigration flow, while fully supporting the holding of the first intergovernmental roundtable on membership talks.

Thomas Waitz, an MEP from the Green Group, criticized the government for incinerator programs, recalling that the country needs waste recycling rather than incineration or landfill, while praising Rama's statement on declaring the Vjosa a National Park.

Waitz also stressed that Albania will have to restore the legal conditions for restricting the ownership of national media, such as the European standard. Albania had such a restriction until 2015, when no individual was allowed to own more than 40% of a national television station, but the Constitutional Court declared the restriction "disproportionate in purpose". According to Waitz, this brings a "very dangerous concentration in media ownership".

"Anyone who has been to Albania and seen that wonderful place has probably seen the destruction done by the garbage dumped everywhere," Waitz said, while recommending that the EU provide assistance in developing a recycling system in Albania.

Waitz voiced support for opening talks on behalf of the Greens.
 

"One thing should be clear to us members, that the start of talks does not mean that this country is approaching the European Union, but through talks, we can push the country towards the development of a modern and European democracy," he said.

Mick Wallace, the left-wing MEP, was the most critical of the government and also the most supportive of opening talks.

"The lack of progress [on integration] over the years has probably damaged the region's hopes and feelings towards the EU," he said.

"In Albania, Rama, unpopular and increasingly authoritarian, seems to have no organized opposition," Wallace commented, citing the controversial media law as an argument.

"There is a need to create the conditions for Albanians to return home and those who are at home to stay at home," Wallace added, noting that he knows many Albanians in Ireland who, according to him, are very good workers.

"It is terrible that the conditions are still so poor for them that they have to leave the country to make a living elsewhere," he added.

All groups in the European Parliament have until 16 December to submit proposals for amendments .