IDU Resolution on Albania

Endorsed by the Democratic Party (DP) of Albania, IDU Executive Committee Meeting, Zagreb, May 1st, 2026

The International Democracy Union,

Recalling Albania’s commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration, its membership in NATO, and reaffirming support for EU accession;

Taking note of the findings of the V-Dem Institute (2026), classifying Albania as “electoral autocracy”; the findings of OSCE/ODIHR and TI CPI 2025 (39/100, down 3 points and 11 places);

Concerned by the failure to implement Constitutional Court decisions and the denial of the opposition’s constitutional rights in Parliament;

The International Democracy Union therefore resolves:

1. European Integration

• Warns that EU accession is effectively delayed due to government obstruction, widespread systemic corruption, state capture, and links between organized crime and the highest levels of power;
• Condemns repeated hindrance to prosecution of high-level corruption and massive procurement abuses, while the socialist parliamentary majority shields accountability;
• Notes investigations implicating ministers and senior officials at all levels, confirming systemic corruption delaying EU integration;
• Supports Albanian integration into the EU on a merit basis without bypassing any criteria;

2. Security and External Risks

• Warns that weakened institutions expose Albania to malign influence, notably from Russia and China; highlights organized crime infiltration, hybrid threats, and cyberattacks as risks to NATO’s Southeastern flank;
• Expresses grave concern over the capture of strategic digital infrastructure, particularly within the National Agency for Information Society, involving senior officials and persons with organised crime links, and reported cases of kidnappings involving officials and/or businessmen;
• Stresses risks to state systems, personal data misuse, election interference, and NATO/EU cooperation;
• Calls for transparency, independent investigations, and urgent safeguards;
• Calls on NATO Balkan nations and partners to work together, through increased defence spending, to strengthen military, political deterrence, and achieve economies of scale;

3. Elections

• States that parliamentary elections failed to meet international standards, marked by massive misuse of state resources, blurred state-party lines, voter pressure/intimidation, and criminal interference;
• Calls for consensual reform, full implementation of OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, protection of pluralism and pre-election coalition rights, reversal of unilateral constitutional changes;
• Supports a caretaker government model to ensure free and fair elections;

4. Selective Justice and Politically Motivated Prosecutions

• Raises concern over 200,000 pending court cases and trial delays of 8–15 years, compared to 18,000 cases and 3–4 years delay prior to reform;
• Condemns political pressure on prosecutors and judges by the Prime Minister; selective justice; and politically motivated prosecutions, including against Sali Berisha, Ilir Meta, and Fatmir Mediu, in violation of due process;

5. Territorial Reform

• Condemns unilateral reforms undermining consensus and enabling political control; calls for inclusive, decentralised reform in line with European standards;

The International Democracy Union:

• Affirms no EU progress is possible without free elections, the rule of law, and pluralism;
• Calls on authorities to end obstruction, restore checks and balances, and uphold Albania’s Euro-Atlantic path.