Kacarska: The Parliamentary dimension is crucial for the accession of new EU members

The director of the European Policy Institute in Skopje, Simonida Kacarska, stated that the parliamentary dimension plays a crucial role in the accession of new EU member states. She also noted that Albania has successfully transformed its image in just a few years, making it an attractive "destination" for many European institutions.

“The parliamentary dimension of EU accession is very important, although it is often overlooked. The European Parliament is the body that ultimately has to approve the accession agreement of each country and plays a key role in building relationships with the parliaments of candidate countries. Besides the rapporteurs we often talk about, there are also special groups and joint committees,” Kacarska told Kosovo Online.

She expects the European Parliament office in Tirana to support cooperation among Western Balkan parliamentarians.

In this way, she is convinced, the region’s collaboration with the European Parliament will be strengthened.

“In the past, members of the European Parliament and their committees primarily relied on the support of EU delegations alongside our institutions. But now, they will have a direct relationship, and we can expect strengthened cooperation,” Kacarska emphasized.

She believes that the European Parliament chose Tirana thanks to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s efforts.

“Prime Minister Edi Rama has successfully managed relations with the European Union in recent years and has secured the opening of several important offices and institutions in Albania. Albania hosts the Youth Office established through the Berlin Process, the College of Europe, and the Western Balkans Office, which has been operating since last year,” Kacarska noted.

However, the opening of the European Parliament office does not mean that Albania will have priority in joining the European Union.

“Of course, I do not believe that Albania is formally the closest to EU membership—that is undoubtedly Montenegro. However, Albania is a larger country that, within a few years, has successfully changed its image from a problematic actor to a country capable of hosting various initiatives. Let’s not forget that the European Political Community Summit will be held in Albania this spring as a significant signal. Also, last year, Albania chaired the Berlin Process Summit, so this office is not an exception but part of their successful portfolio in this context,” the analyst pointed out.

Nevertheless, she does not believe that the opening of this office will directly improve cooperation and reconciliation in the Western Balkans.

“Perhaps in a broader perspective, but the primary goal is to strengthen the European Parliament’s institutional relationships with these countries. However, it will undoubtedly carry out activities with a regional scope, making it a long-term goal,” Kacarska concluded.