KAS

Jozefina Topalli: „We want to return home. We are part of the family."

KAS

Roderich Kiesewetter: „Albania has lost two years.“

KAS

Topalli is the first female president of Albania's parliament.

KAS

In his opening remarks Roderich Kiesewetter, member of the German Bundestag, talked about a backlash for Albania if looking back at 2011. Though it might have been good news for Albanians in December 2010 that they are able to travel visa-free to the Schengen zone, the bad news however coming from the European Commission, told them they were not ready for receiving the official candidate status. Because of their importance in this region, it is essential that the European Union keeps on offering perspectives said Kiesewetter.

The year 2011 that Albania is happy to leave behind, has been a year majorly subject to a stand-off between the centre-right government and the socialist opposition that politically paralysed and divided the country. For two years, before the disputed parliamentary elections of 2009, you could have said, Albania is doing amazingly well. Two decades after the fall of one of the most repressive regimes in the Communist bloc, and after having received millions from the European Union, being accepted into Nato in 2008 and with EU membership apparently moving into view, there seemed to be no dark clouds on the horizon. Everything went smoothly well until the elections came in may 2009, and things were set on hold.

However, it may be truth that Albania’s main political parties have been at loggerheads ever since, the country still managed to stay on the right path. With having more businesses opened between 2005-2009 than in the last 40 years, by having its export tripled, and albeit surrounded by crisis-hit countries as Greece, Albania’s GDP grew by 3,5%.

Reforming a country isn’t easy. “Money exists not by nature, but it comes with rules and laws”, pointed Topalli. Referring to the cuts in spending, privatizing the country, the transformation of a small government and the investment in infrastructure. It is now up to the large young generation and a matter of attracting foreign investment, to keep Albania reforming in this positive direction.

Kiesewetter says the German federal government sees this potential and therefore encourages investments. But it should not only be a romantic story where we act of being social. It should be a matter of helping for helping. Therefore he wanted to emphasize the importance of the rule of law, so that if a German business is sent to court, it will get a fair process. But adding to that, the only message Germany and the EU, is allowed to send in direction to the Balkans should be EU-orientated. “The boat isn’t full, and the boat won’t be full, we should leave our doors open.” said Kiesewetter.