The Main Progressive Group in the European Parliament express the hope that the Albanian government and opposition clearly understand that overcoming the current political controversies is crucial for the country's progress towards EU integration.

Libor Roucek, S&D Vice-President of the European Parliament and shadow rapporteur for the resolution on Albania's EU integration process underlined that all political sides in Albania have to assume their responsibilities and engage into constructive dialogue. Otherwise the country's bid for EU membership is seriously in danger of being put on hold.

Said Mr. Roucek: "It is high time to find a solution to the current political crisis on a basis which will stand the test of time. It is the government's responsibility to promptly find solutions and ways forward which will be required for the country on its EU path.

"We welcome the progress made in the preparations for visa-liberalisation and urge the authorities to work hard to meet all benchmarks by the end of 2010.

"Now we are looking forward to Albania finding grounds for dialogue between all political parties. And that, together with today's vote on the report as a whole, shall help Albania in its process to move efficiently towards EU integration", Mr.Roucek stressed.

"Each country's progress towards the EU depends on its efforts to comply with the Copenhagen criteria and the conditionality of the Stabilisation and the Association Process.

The prospect of EU integration is an impetus to several reforms", reiterated today the S&D shadow rapporteur for the resolution on Albania's EU integration.

The Group urges the Albanian authorities to implement as soon as possible a consensus-based reform of parliament's rules of procedure, which will ensure not only high quality legislation based on extensive expertise, but also improved supervisory capacities for parliament and adequate rights and representation for the opposition in parliamentary committees and activities.