The European Union Ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, spoke at the roundtable on the Open Dialogue Platform. He emphasized the importance of involving Parliament in evaluating Albania’s EU integration process. He also highlighted the need to guide future priorities.

“I want to stress the importance of looking ahead and focusing on strategy. The processes are ongoing, and we have key deadlines to meet. I am grateful for the commitment, despite the risks involved,” Gonzato said.

He noted the platform’s achievements over the past year, especially bringing together diverse stakeholders, which is not easy in Albania. The platform also addressed issues like access to information, journalist safety, and media transparency.

“Working groups and stakeholders have produced tangible and important recommendations, such as the journalist safety protocol. These components are crucial not only for reforms but also for us,” the ambassador added.

Gonzato acknowledged remaining challenges and some recommendations that were overlooked initially. He mentioned issues such as decriminalizing defamation and the audiovisual media law, which have seen limited progress. “I must admit, the deadlines set by Brussels affected the quality of the process. This impacted consultations with different stakeholders. I have conveyed this to Brussels,” he said, recalling the EU’s expectations.

He stressed that the EU expects Albania to implement the platform regarding freedom of expression and media. “Consultation is non-negotiable. Reforms cannot succeed without the participation of journalists, media, and civil society. And where better to approve this than Parliament?”

Gonzato welcomed the engagement of the Parliament’s chair and deputy chair to use the platform as a tool for committee consultations.