Kasoulides, mediatior of EPP-ESP for the crises in Albania

A Initiative to resolve the political crisis in Albania made this week in Strasbourg, by the Presidents of the two largest political groups in the European Parliament, Mr Joseph Daul (EPP) and Martin Schulz (Socialists Party).

Daul and Schulz, flanked by responsible for external affairs, J. Kasoulides (which extended for this reason 'to stay in Strasbourg), Adrian Severin and Hannes Swoboda of the Socialist Party, the President of the EP Delegation for relations with the countries of the Western Balkans, Mr Edward Kukan invited in the european capital for talks with the Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, and the Socialist opposition leader Mr. Edi Rama for many months to resolve the political crisis in country.The meeting was called and attended also by the European Commissioner for Enlargement Mr Stefan Fule.

Noted in particular that the Socialist opposition has strongly contested the transparency of the electoral process and the outcome of elections in Albania last June, holding dozens of protest and boycotting the meetings of the national parliament, making it impossible to adopt laws and harmonization with the acquis communautaire.

In the same direction and controversial - legal-request to open the polls last June, several members of the Socialist Party escalated their reactions, moving the last few days on hunger strike.

Berisha and Rama was coordinating a working dinner between Mr Schulz, Kasoulides, Severin, Swoboda, Kukan and Fule noon Thursday. The same evening, before the start of the official dinner between all sides, the J. Kasoulides together with Msts Daul and Kukan had separate meeting with Albanian Prime Minister whose party belongs to the EPP, while the Mr. Schulz met with Mr. Rama.

Ultimately, the talks between all sides Thursday night lasted over six hours and made progress on several points. Light remains an issue that is most critical to resolve the most difficult to find the right formula. In this case, by the EPP and the Socialist Group proposal was presented to Mr. Kasoulides that emerged at that time in accordance with the views expressed yesterday and agreed to allow time for two weeks on both sides to come under this proposal. A New meeting scheduled to take place in Strasbourg on the sidelines of the next plenary session of the EP, which starts on 14 June. Meanwhile agreed the immediate termination of the hunger strike by the socialists, the occupation of roads and demonstrations and the return of opposition to the work of the Albanian parliament.

The Agreement was chosen as a place to Strasbourg for a symbolic and is the capital of the European Union and the City of reconciliation and peace. The active involvement of the EPP in this endeavor is based on written recommendation of J. Kasoulides upgrade of parliamentary diplomacy in the context of increased powers for the European Parliament since the implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon.

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