Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001733/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nikolaos Anadiotis (NI)
In 2023, the European Commission provided EUR 4.8 million in funds to assist Albania in carrying out a census. This was because the previous census, conducted in 2011, was severely criticised by the Council of Europe owing to a number of violations[1].
On 28 June 2024, following the completion of the census earlier that month, the Democratic Union of the Greek Minority in Albania (also known as Omonoia) issued a statement declaring the results of the census to be ‘unfounded, untrue and unacceptable’ and adding that Omonoia ‘therefore rejects the results of the census procedure with regard to the demography of the native Greek ethnic minority’.
Serious problems were identified and flaws in the population census procedure were reported, specifically: (a) an unreliable methodology, given that the principle of self-identification was not applied and that questionnaires preventing the proper recording of national identity, language and religion were used; (b) a lack of transparency in data collection and processing; (c) the distortion of results and interference with / manipulation of responses and (d) the failure to involve minority representatives.
In view of this, can the Commission answer the following:
- 1.Has it assessed the ‘integrity’ of the census and reviewed the (flawed) census procedure and its (dubious) results? Is it satisfied with its findings?
- 2.Will there be any consequences for Albania should any misuse of these funds be found and, if so, what will these be?
Submitted: 17.9.2024
- [1] See question E-002964/2023 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-002964_EN.html