PD MP, Enkelejd Alibeaj, has responded to Prime Minister Edi Rama regarding the project for the Port of Durrës. In a post on social networks, Alibeaj says that "a big problem has forced Rama to attack all those who are critical and skeptical about the phantom project of the port of Durrës".
As he informs that he has also informed the European Commission and the Delegation of the EU in Tirana regarding the much contested project.
Alibeaj's post
A big trouble has forced Edi Rama to attack all those who are critical and skeptical about the phantom project of the port of Durrës. A project that practically robs the Albanians of one of the few remaining public assets and that is given to the selectmen and clients of the prime minister with a ridiculous project. PD is not against serious investments, nor against investors who want to develop their businesses in Albania.
But in the conditions when we are led by a government that has proven to us that it only knows how to abuse and steal the assets of Albanians, at least transparency is necessary. Until today, the government and the prime minister have been silent and the DP parliamentary group has decided to present its concerns about the port of Durrës to the European Commission. Through a letter sent yesterday, I informed the European Commission and the EU Delegation in Tirana regarding the project of the Port of Durrës.
In the essence of the letter, the violations of the Stabilization-Association Agreement related to the principles of free competition (Article 71) and non-discrimination (Article 74) are presented. Any state aid - the SAA sanctions - that distorts the rules of competition, is in violation of this Agreement. The Albanian government has admitted that no competition has been held regarding this project and the winning company has been determined from the beginning.
The Durrës Port project may be a unique case in the world where the state offers 818 thousand square meters of public property, as well as tax exemptions, with a total value of 730 million euros, to get back only 280 million. It is difficult to say where the economic leverage of the Albanian state lies in this project.
Nga ana tjetër investitori ka marrë përsipër të realizojë një investim 2.1 miliardë euro, në një kohë që ai ofron vetëm 160 milionë euro, ndërsa pjesa tjetër prej 1.94 miliardë Euro do të sigurohet nga palë të treta të panjohura. Shtuar këtu faktin që kompania mëmë është e regjistruar në Ishujt Kajman, cka krijon qartazi një rrezik të lartë për pastrim parash.
Duke vepruar kështu qeveria shqiptare jo vetëm ka shkelur rëndë parimin e konkurrencës së lirë, por ka diskriminuar cdo kompani shqiptare dhe europiane që mund të ishte e interesuar për t’u përfshirë në këtë projekt. Madje kjo do të ishte në interesin e vetë shtetit shqiptar, pasi mund të merrte një propozim më të leverdisshëm.
We brought other previous cases to the attention of the EU, where the government through special laws granted property, rights and privileges to private companies, which shows that this practice has already become routine for the Albanian government.
Through this letter, we ask the European Commission and the EU Delegation to follow this case more closely and in accordance with their procedures to investigate the compatibility of this agreement with the principles and standards of the SAA and European legislation.