“In the Western Balkans, respect for the European acquis must be the only path for the accession of candidate states,” said the ND MEP, Fredi Beleris in his first intervention in the Plenary of the European Parliament.

He referred to the 16 months he spent in prison and stated that “today, I am here as a minority Greek MEP who comes from an EU member state, but was born in a country that aspires to join the European family”.

Beleris intervention in detail

“It is with great emotion that I address, for the first time, the Plenary of our European Parliament. An institution whose determination proved capable of unlocking the Albanian cell, where I remained for 16 months.

Today, I am here as a minority Greek MEP who comes from an EU member state, but was born in a country that aspires to join the European family. Unfortunately, this country is constantly moving away from the European acquis instead of approaching it.

The current situation in Albania shows how reforms can easily turn into “totalitarian bombs” on the foundations of a democratic state.

This was also done with the judicial reform financed by European funds. The Albanian Government has often made Justice its arm, which it did not only in my case, but also to the leader of the official opposition.

And our Union is now faced with an oxymoron. The more certain its support for Mr. Rama’s leadership is considered, the more intense the anti-European sentiment among the country’s citizens becomes.

In the Western Balkans, respect for the European acquis must be the only path for the accession of candidate states. Any retreat would automatically mean the defeat of our common values.”