Resolution on Albania

Endorsed by the Democratic Party and Republican Party of Albania December 5th, Washington DC

Having regard to the OSCE/ODIHR Final Report of May 11, 2025, the Albanian parliamentary elections; the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2025 and the U.S. Department of State Business Climate Report and recalling the Copenhagen Criteria, the OSCE Copenhagen Document (1990), and Venice Commission standards and prior IDU, CDI, and EPP resolutions on Albania;

The International Democracy Union;
Electoral Backsliding and State-Party-Crime Fusion

1. Expresses deep concern that the OSCE/ODIHR Report confirms systemic violations including intimidation, vote-buying, and the misuse of state resources and the use of corruption and criminal networks to influence Socialist candidate lists, notably in Elbasan, Durrës, and Vora.
2. Notes that over 4,500 state events were exploited for campaigning with minimal sanctions, showing institutional bias and impunity and condemns the use of public funds and criminal patronage to manipulate votes and the diaspora electorate;
3. Warns that persistent refusal to implement ODIHR recommendations has entrenched electoral coercion and eroded trust in democracy;

Weaponization of Justice and Collapse of Oversight

4. Notes grave concern over blocked inquiries, ignored motions, and disregard for Constitutional Court rulings and highlights executive control over the prosecution, judiciary, media, and regulatory bodies;

5. Condemns politically motivated cases against opposition leaders including Sali Berisha, Fatmir Mediu, Ilir Meta, and others, warning of selective justice and imminent political verdicts;

Albania as a Narco-State and Security Threat

6. Expresses alarm that Albania remains a regional hub for drug trafficking and money laundering, with criminal infiltration of public contracts, construction, and tourism and warns that the narco-economy threatens regional stability, European security and the credibility of EU enlargement;

Calls and Recommendations

7. Calls on the EU, U.S., and Council of Europe to apply strict merit-based conditionality to Albania’s EU path and urges creation of an independent international mechanism to monitor elections, justice, and media;
8. Requests targeted sanctions against officials and entities linked to corruption, organized crime, and political persecution and supports reforms to dismantle criminal networks, ensure judicial independence, restore parliamentary oversight, and protect media freedom;

Conclusions

9. Reaffirms that the fusion of political power, justice, and organized crime poses a grave threat to European democracy and security;
10. Warns that Albania risks a permanent narco-authoritarian regime;
11. Calls on IDU members to remain vigilant and support Albanian democrats in defending freedom, pluralism, and European values.

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