Schinas: Detention of ethnic Greek mayor in Albania ‘profoundly anti-European’

The continued incarceration by the Albanian authorities of an ethnic Greek who was elected mayor of Himare in May is "profoundly anti-European" and risks becoming a barrier to the "Albanian people's European aspirations," European Commission Vice President for Protecting the European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas has said.

In a pre-recorded video message relayed at a demonstration on Monday staged by the Omonoia organization in the southern Albanian city demanding the immediate release of Fredi Beleri, Schinas said that the "the European way of life is about democracy, justice, freedom to vote, and to be elected.

"This is the foundation for all those who want to become members of our great European family. And Albania cannot be an exception to that."

The commissioner added that he has asked his colleague in charge of EU enlargement "to make it absolutely clear...