Vice Chairman of the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), Petrit Vasili has reacted on Saturday regarding the resolution adopted by the European Parliament for Albania, describing it as an annihilating scanner of Prime Minister Rama’s bankrupt government.

Through the social networks, Vasili underlined some of the key points of the resolution, ranging from the impunity of electoral crimes to the unconstitutional constitutional change, as he emphasized that this document is a slap in the face for the socialist majority.

"European Parliament resolution, annihilating scanner of Rama's bankrupt government!

The European Parliament resolution adopted on May 19 is a slap in the face to Rama's government.

Rama's propaganda's propaganda ends and the complete bankruptcy of every field of his despotic government comes to light.

The resolution is very clear and here is what is exhaustively stated in it:

- regrets the lack of final sentences in cases of vote buying at high levels;

Regrets Inconsistent Changes to Constitution, Electoral Law by Ruling Majority Ahead of General Elections

- reiterates the need to further consolidate territorial administrative reform as part of the broader decentralization agenda in order to guarantee local fiscal autonomy and empower municipalities to provide high quality public services;

- Underlines the need to improve in-service coordination, evaluation and monitoring of EU-related reforms, to advance decentralization, modernization and depoliticisation of the civil service throughout the country, and to enable conditions for the conduct of future population censuses; in accordance with international standards on transparency and confidentiality,

- Notes the need for urgent improvement on freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism and worries about the lack of progress in this area, as Albania has dropped eight places in the ‘World Press Freedom Index’ of Reporters Without Borders since 2018;

- reiterates its grave concerns about the previously proposed 'anti-defamation package'

- Expresses serious concern about massive leaks of personal data; calls on the Albanian authorities to increase prevention, to ensure accountability for data misuse

- Recalls the need to effectively guarantee the right to freedom of peaceful assembly without arbitrary or discriminatory measures and notes the importance of addressing allegations of police misconduct and investigating and prosecuting disproportionate use of force;

- Emphasizes the obligation of the Albanian authorities to continue the elimination of corruption and criminal activities in all areas of public life, including public procurement procedures and the financing of political parties; notes that Albania has fallen by 27 places in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index for 2021, since 2016;

- expresses concern about the weakened oversight and accountability of public procurement and foreign aid expenditures during the Pandemic and calls for prompt redress for deficiencies;

- underlines the need to take the necessary measures to eliminate the side effects of the verification, such as lengthy proceedings, a low clearance rate and a high number of issues;

regrets that sentences in cases involving high-ranking officials remain limited, which fosters a culture of impunity;

- emphasizes that the reform of the judicial system according to the new map of the judiciary must take into account the opinions of stakeholders and the socio-economic conditions of vulnerable groups and improve access to justice and due process of law;

- Underlines the importance of taking decisive action against money laundering and terrorist financing by ensuring a consistent history of proactive investigations, prosecutions and final convictions for high-level corruption.

- Encourages Albania to refrain from establishing an investment citizenship scheme, which could pose serious security risks, money laundering, corruption and tax evasion;

- Underlines that the simplification and modernization of the tax system and the improved collection of taxes would facilitate the management of public expenditures and the deficit in the face of rising energy and food prices;

- Emphasizes that improved governance, transparency, legal certainty, inclusion and social dialogue are essential to stimulate foreign direct investment and retain skilled workers; calls for meaningful involvement of civil society and other stakeholders in the policy action debate;

- regrets that the allocation of the 2021 budget for education was only 2.7% of Albania's GDP; calls for increased investment in the modernization of the education system to ensure its quality and inclusiveness;

- Expresses concern for the revision of the network map of protected areas, which should not contribute to environmental degradation in the threatened coastal and wetland areas rich in biodiversity of Albania;

- Requires a review of the national strategy for waste management for 2018-2035 focusing on the most sophisticated recycling methods in line with EU standards

- recalls that infrastructure projects, including the port of Durrës, must comply with EU public procurement standards contained in the Stabilization and Association Agreement;

- Calls on the Albanian government to continue promoting good neighborly relations and enhancing inclusive regional integration that establishes equal cooperation between the six countries, further strengthening alignment with EU standards and acquis by implementing and developing the Joint EU Regional Market

These very serious failures of Rama, which only deepen, are the real reason that the EU Accession Negotiations do not open.

Rama works only against EU integration because the functioning of the rule of law and the elimination of impunity that the EU seeks to put him behind the wall", stated Vasili in his reaction.