Albania grapples with EU accession stalemate, language‑exam dispute and religious‑political tensions

In the European Parliament's Committee on Stabilisation and Association, Albanian parties failed to adopt a joint resolution on the country's EU accession. The Democratic Party (PD) said its more than 30 amendments – covering anti‑corruption measures, rule‑of‑law enforcement and judicial transparency – were rejected by the Socialist Party (PS), preventing consensus on the text.

Student leader Mevlan Ademi criticized the government for postponing the promised resolution of the law‑school jurisprudence exam language issue. A solution pledged within a week is now said to take over six months, and the proposal to split the exam half in Albanian and half in Macedonian was rejected as unacceptable. Ademi reiterated the demand for a full Albanian‑language exam in line with the language law.

Former PS deputy Denis Deliu said he repeatedly urged the National Bureau of Investigations (BKH) and the Special Anti‑Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) to open offices in crime‑hotspot districts, suggesting a dedicated arrest unit modeled on the U.S. FBI.

Deputy Belind Këlliçi released a video showing former opposition MP Taulant Balla’s 2012 criticism of a development project in Zvërnec, now used to portray Balla as a political weapon against current protesters.

Political commentator Adnan Azizi reiterated that no external power can deter Albania’s political activity, emphasizing the country’s ownership by its people.

A separate analysis warned that foreign actors may exploit religious institutions to sow division within Albanian communities, urging Islamic bodies to avoid political manipulation and naming several public figures alleged to spread divisive rhetoric.