Greek MEP Afroditi Latinopoulou (Patriots for Europe) has asked the European Commission to assess whether Albania's treatment of its Greek ethnic minority is compatible with EU accession criteria, following a violent attack on minority members in Zvërnec by a private security company. The question, submitted on 3 June 2026, targets the Commission's stance on rule-of-law conditions in candidate countries, directly affecting the Greek minority in Albania and broader EU enlargement policy.
The written parliamentary question cites a pattern of alleged pressure, property rights violations, and intimidation against Greeks in Northern Epirus over several years. Latinopoulou specifically asks the Commission to evaluate whether recurring incidents targeting the minority are consistent with the fundamental rights and rule-of-law requirements for EU membership. She also questions whether accession talks should proceed if the safety of the Greek minority is not guaranteed.
No prior coverage of this specific question exists in recent months. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal whether it views these allegations as a serious obstacle to Albania's EU path. The question reflects a cleavage between EU integration conditionality and national sovereignty concerns, with potential impacts on Albania's accession timeline, the rights of the Greek minority, and the credibility of EU enlargement criteria. Stakeholders most affected include the Greek minority in Albania, the Albanian government, EU institutions managing enlargement, and member states with interests in Western Balkans policy.