Albania political deadlock delayed EU talks

Albania’s Socialist opposition returned to parliament on Monday, ending a three-month boycott, but the country’s path towards EU accession may have been affected, warns one think tank.

The Socialist opposition started boycotting parliament in protest against what it alleged were irregularities in the May 8 race for the post of Tirana mayor.

The boycott worsened the political environment, as it meant that bills requiring a two-thirds majority in parliament to become enshrined into law could not be passed. This brought reform in the country to a virtual standstill.

The bills are expected to go before parliament again but it is not certain that any of the stalled laws will be passed before the European Commission issues its opinion on Albania in October.