Clear Message from the EU to Albania: Respect the Orthodox Church

Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr

TIRANA — Beyond issues of restoring church properties, the European Parliament has issued a clear message to Tirana in a resolution passed during its July 9, 2025 plenary session on Albania’s EU accession progress: Albania must fully and unconditionally respect the autonomy of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania and refrain from any form of state interference in its structure and governance.

The resolution - previously approved by the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee - frames the protection of the Church as part of preserving religious diversity and peaceful coexistence in the country. It comes at a particularly sensitive time following the passing of the late Archbishop Anastasios and two members of the Holy Synod.

Key concerns raised by the European Parliament:

• Repeated interference by Albanian authorities in ecclesiastical administrative matters
• Delays or outright refusals to return confiscated churches, monasteries, and sacred artifacts
• Arbitrary actions against church property, benefiting economic interests under government protection

Resolution P10-TA(2025)0155 explicitly condemns any interference in the Church’s hierarchical structure and calls for sincere dialogue to safeguard religious freedom.

Support for the Greek Orthodox Minority

The resolution also highlights the close relationship between the Orthodox Church and the Greek National Minority, noting that the vast majority of Greeks in Northern Epirus are Orthodox Christians. It calls on Albania to:

• Protect the religious and cultural heritage of the Greek Orthodox Minority
• Legally recognize and return churches and cemeteries
• Halt arbitrary expropriations and demolitions of historically significant properties

The resolution further recommends the restructuring of the State Committee for Minorities, meaningful funding of cultural initiatives, and guarantees for unrestricted Greek-language education.

Census 2023 Under Scrutiny

The European Parliament also expresses serious concern over the credibility of Albania’s 2023 census (CENS 2023), which was rejected by both the Orthodox Church and Greek Minority organizations. The resolution underscores the importance of respecting self-identification, as mandated by the Council of Europe, and ties this principle directly to Albania’s EU integration prospects.

Previously, UOJ reported that the Church of Albania had issued a strong statement condemning the persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

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