Dimitrov: EP uses EU enlargement momentum, strengthens its presence in the region

Researcher at the Belgrade Centre for European Policy, Djordje Dimitrov, stated that the opening of the European Parliament office in Albania should be seen as an attempt by this European institution to use the "momentum of enlargement" to strengthen its presence in the Western Balkans through closer cooperation with local parliaments as well as civil society.

“The European Parliament has likely decided to seize this enlargement momentum and, through its office in Tirana, which will coordinate with the entire Western Balkans, solidify its presence in the region and strengthen cooperation not only with the national parliaments of the six Western Balkan countries but also with civil society and other stakeholders. This will most likely resemble the liaison offices that the European Parliament has in EU member states,” Dimitrov told Kosovo Online.

He explains that the office in Tirana will consist of “desks,” each responsible for a specific country, its civil sector, and particular issues.

“They will simply try to be more efficient because they will now be closer to the Western Balkans, eliminating the need for the region to travel to Brussels. This proximity will likely save them a lot of time, energy, and, of course, resources,” Dimitrov emphasized.

He notes that Albania was chosen not only because of its stable parliamentary functioning but also due to lower costs compared to other capitals.

“Among Western Balkan countries, Tirana is one of the best-connected cities in Europe. This is thanks to good decisions by the Albanian authorities, who have upgraded their airport, which has the highest growth rate in the Western Balkans. This likely played a significant role – its connectivity with Brussels and the rest of Europe, along with lower costs compared to, for example, Belgrade. Belgrade has a tense political atmosphere and was certainly not considered for hosting this office,” Dimitrov concluded.