Two European Parliament representatives have expressed deep concern over recent developments in Albania, particularly incidents in Tirana over the past few days. They condemned escalating violence during protests, attacks on public institutions and damage to public and private property.

In a joint statement issued in Brussels, Marco Tarquinio, chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Albania, and Andreas Schieder, the Parliament’s standing rapporteur on Albania, urged protesters to exercise maximum restraint. They said violence undermines efforts to find solutions and has no place in a democracy. The lawmakers also voiced serious concern over reports of possible excessive police force against demonstrators. They called on the authorities to show restraint and urged the relevant bodies to establish individual responsibility for any acts of violence, including the excessive use of force.

The statement stressed that freedom of peaceful assembly and expression are rights protected under European and international law. The lawmakers underlined that young people have a legitimate right to voice concerns about issues that directly affect their future. They urged the authorities to safeguard the exercise of these freedoms, including the right to peaceful protest.

Tarquinio and Schieder also called for peaceful, constructive and sincere dialogue among all stakeholders. They said such engagement should address protesters’ grievances meaningfully, in line with Albanian law and European standards. The appeal comes amid tensions surrounding the recent demonstrations in Tirana, with the lawmakers stressing the need to protect democratic rights while preventing further violence.

The two representatives concluded by reaffirming the importance of the rule of law and democratic standards for Albania’s European integration. They described respect for the rule of law as the main criterion and an essential condition for the country’s progress towards European Union membership.