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3 July, 2025
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    Azerbaijan dismisses claims of involvement in Israel-Iran conflict

    Elite Purges: Internal Conflict or External Design?

    Trump’s Threat of U.S. Intervention in Iran Exposes Roots of Critics’ Fears

    Crisis-Born, Purpose-Seeking: Can the EPC Define Europe’s Strategic Future?

    Serbia’s Request to the ICJ Turned Resolution 1244 into a Closed Chapter and Kosovo’s Independence into an Internationally Recognized Reality

    Unpredictable world

    Promoting Arab Culture and Language in the Framework of Cultural Diversity and Dialogue.

    ‘A Tragic Circus’: Albanian PD Figures Lash Out After LaCivita-Backed Campaign Collapses

    Erosion of Liberal Democracy in Europe Complicates Canada’s Search for Like-Minded Allies

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    Exclusive: “Even After Tito – Tito”/ Ambassador Zlatko Kramarić on Authoritarian Legacies and Democracy’s Future in the Balkans

    The Conclusion of the Diplomatic Mission / Ambassador Dancho Markovski: Strengthening Albania-North Macedonia Relations for a Shared European Future

    A Century of Diplomatic Relations Between Albania and Russia: Exclusive Interview with the Russian Ambassador to Albania, H.E. Alexey Zaytsev

    Exclusive/ The chairman of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta: “The will of the citizens will triumph in Albania, as it did in North Macedonia”

    Exclusive/ The Russian Ambassador to Albania Mr. Mikhail Afanasiev: Russia only aims to end that war started by the West in Ukraine

    Exclusive/ Skopje’s top diplomat to Tirana, Dancho Markovski: OSCE Chairmanship a Project of National Importance for North Macedonia

    Exclusive interview of Croatian Ambassador Zlatko Kramaric: ‘There is progress in Croatian-Albanian relations, but it is still not enough’  

    The first anniversary of the appointment as Archbishop at the head of the Catholic Church/ Mons. Arjan Dodaj: Only God can be the author of our walk!

    Azerbaijan’s Ambassador Anar Huseynov: President Aliyev’s visit to Albania opened a new page in our relations through the specific accords reached

  • Realpolitik

    Summit G 6+1! The historic Summit and Trump show! Zelensky loses 0:2! Winners and losers of the 12 day war!

    Chancellor Merz passed “the exam”! Political stupidity! 5 per cent or study Russian! The Firing East!      

    A top phone call as disappointment! Exit from Brexit! Germany at the helm! End this political shame up!

    That’s it! The quartet of hope! Shame on Kosovo! The Summit of a Community without Identity!

    Only praises and prolises for Meloni! Facts versus untruths! Immediate ceasefire and genuine peace, no deal for new occupation! Back after 60 years !

    US nuclear tariff bomb!! Europa fires back! NATO ok, but with or without Article 5? Kallas urges reforms!

    Europe riarmed! Germany’s epochal shift! Spoiled soup! EU Commissioner Kos demands reforms!

    Europe tightens the ranks! The Euro-Atlantic Alliance in danger! USA-1945!! A true Peace, not new occupation!

    WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.  Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

    The law of force over the force of law! Multilateral diplomacy is the victim! Euro-Atlantism in danger! Munchen split the West!

  • Current Events

    Skopje Growth Plan Summit: Western Balkans Six Urged to Accelerate Reforms

    Summit G 6+1! The historic Summit and Trump show! Zelensky loses 0:2! Winners and losers of the 12 day war!

    The NATO Summit in 2027 will be held in Tirana.

    Exclusive: “Even After Tito – Tito”/ Ambassador Zlatko Kramarić on Authoritarian Legacies and Democracy’s Future in the Balkans

    Geneva meeting begins in bid to halt escalating Israel-Iran conflict

    From Donetsk to Northern Kosovo: Geopolitical Games with the Kosovo Precedent

    G7 leaders fail to reach ambitious joint agreements on key issues after Trump’s exit

    Where does Donald Trump stand on the Israel-Iran conflict?

    Russia in the Western Balkans, Written by Dragan Šormaz

  • Top News

    The NATO Summit in 2027 will be held in Tirana.

    NATO allies agree to allocate 5% of GDP to defense by 2035

    Reza Pahlavi: “This Is Our Berlin Wall Moment” — Exiled Prince Calls for Global Support as Iran Nears Regime Collapse

    Where does Donald Trump stand on the Israel-Iran conflict?

    Russia Proposes Second Round of Ukraine Peace Talks in Istanbul on June 2

    International leaders congratulate Prime Minister Rama after his victory in the parliamentary elections, securing a fourth term.

    Albania’s parliamentary elections competitive and well run but lacked level playing field, international observers say

    Top Ukrainian delegation arrives in Paris for talks with Western officials

    Marta Kos: Albania Making Rapid Progress Toward EU Integration

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  • Home
  • OP/ED

    Azerbaijan dismisses claims of involvement in Israel-Iran conflict

    Elite Purges: Internal Conflict or External Design?

    Trump’s Threat of U.S. Intervention in Iran Exposes Roots of Critics’ Fears

    Crisis-Born, Purpose-Seeking: Can the EPC Define Europe’s Strategic Future?

    Serbia’s Request to the ICJ Turned Resolution 1244 into a Closed Chapter and Kosovo’s Independence into an Internationally Recognized Reality

    Unpredictable world

    Promoting Arab Culture and Language in the Framework of Cultural Diversity and Dialogue.

    ‘A Tragic Circus’: Albanian PD Figures Lash Out After LaCivita-Backed Campaign Collapses

    Erosion of Liberal Democracy in Europe Complicates Canada’s Search for Like-Minded Allies

  • Interview

    Exclusive: “Even After Tito – Tito”/ Ambassador Zlatko Kramarić on Authoritarian Legacies and Democracy’s Future in the Balkans

    The Conclusion of the Diplomatic Mission / Ambassador Dancho Markovski: Strengthening Albania-North Macedonia Relations for a Shared European Future

    A Century of Diplomatic Relations Between Albania and Russia: Exclusive Interview with the Russian Ambassador to Albania, H.E. Alexey Zaytsev

    Exclusive/ The chairman of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta: “The will of the citizens will triumph in Albania, as it did in North Macedonia”

    Exclusive/ The Russian Ambassador to Albania Mr. Mikhail Afanasiev: Russia only aims to end that war started by the West in Ukraine

    Exclusive/ Skopje’s top diplomat to Tirana, Dancho Markovski: OSCE Chairmanship a Project of National Importance for North Macedonia

    Exclusive interview of Croatian Ambassador Zlatko Kramaric: ‘There is progress in Croatian-Albanian relations, but it is still not enough’  

    The first anniversary of the appointment as Archbishop at the head of the Catholic Church/ Mons. Arjan Dodaj: Only God can be the author of our walk!

    Azerbaijan’s Ambassador Anar Huseynov: President Aliyev’s visit to Albania opened a new page in our relations through the specific accords reached

  • Realpolitik

    Summit G 6+1! The historic Summit and Trump show! Zelensky loses 0:2! Winners and losers of the 12 day war!

    Chancellor Merz passed “the exam”! Political stupidity! 5 per cent or study Russian! The Firing East!      

    A top phone call as disappointment! Exit from Brexit! Germany at the helm! End this political shame up!

    That’s it! The quartet of hope! Shame on Kosovo! The Summit of a Community without Identity!

    Only praises and prolises for Meloni! Facts versus untruths! Immediate ceasefire and genuine peace, no deal for new occupation! Back after 60 years !

    US nuclear tariff bomb!! Europa fires back! NATO ok, but with or without Article 5? Kallas urges reforms!

    Europe riarmed! Germany’s epochal shift! Spoiled soup! EU Commissioner Kos demands reforms!

    Europe tightens the ranks! The Euro-Atlantic Alliance in danger! USA-1945!! A true Peace, not new occupation!

    WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.  Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

    The law of force over the force of law! Multilateral diplomacy is the victim! Euro-Atlantism in danger! Munchen split the West!

  • Current Events

    Skopje Growth Plan Summit: Western Balkans Six Urged to Accelerate Reforms

    Summit G 6+1! The historic Summit and Trump show! Zelensky loses 0:2! Winners and losers of the 12 day war!

    The NATO Summit in 2027 will be held in Tirana.

    Exclusive: “Even After Tito – Tito”/ Ambassador Zlatko Kramarić on Authoritarian Legacies and Democracy’s Future in the Balkans

    Geneva meeting begins in bid to halt escalating Israel-Iran conflict

    From Donetsk to Northern Kosovo: Geopolitical Games with the Kosovo Precedent

    G7 leaders fail to reach ambitious joint agreements on key issues after Trump’s exit

    Where does Donald Trump stand on the Israel-Iran conflict?

    Russia in the Western Balkans, Written by Dragan Šormaz

  • Top News

    The NATO Summit in 2027 will be held in Tirana.

    NATO allies agree to allocate 5% of GDP to defense by 2035

    Reza Pahlavi: “This Is Our Berlin Wall Moment” — Exiled Prince Calls for Global Support as Iran Nears Regime Collapse

    Where does Donald Trump stand on the Israel-Iran conflict?

    Russia Proposes Second Round of Ukraine Peace Talks in Istanbul on June 2

    International leaders congratulate Prime Minister Rama after his victory in the parliamentary elections, securing a fourth term.

    Albania’s parliamentary elections competitive and well run but lacked level playing field, international observers say

    Top Ukrainian delegation arrives in Paris for talks with Western officials

    Marta Kos: Albania Making Rapid Progress Toward EU Integration

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Home ENGLISH

Varhelyi Proves That Commissioners Rule

29 January, 2021
in ENGLISH, English OP/ED
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By Kassandra

In December, we revealed a case of disloyalty by Genoveva Ruiz Calavera, a mid-level bureaucrat at the European Commission who was, until the last few days, the director for the Western Balkans. Her boss, the Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, tried last September to sort out a tangled situation in Albania that was provoked by the unilateral and consensus breaching steps of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Rama’s ruling majority changed the constitution and electoral rules, with no regard for an earlier agreement with the opposition which was mediated by the EU and the US.
Varhelyi convinced President Ilir Meta and opposition leader Lulzim Basha to refer the matter to the Venice Commission, an eminent jurist’s body with the Council of Europe. Rama found a way out of a conflict that could have had negative consequences for the general elections that are scheduled for April.
Behind the scenes, Varhelyi insisted with the Venice Commission had to deal with the Albanian issue as a priority. He probably learned through the December article that his subordinate, Calavera, was placing calls with the same body in an attempt to try to sabotage his efforts. She asked for the Meta request to be rejected. Her view was that should the Venice Commission recommend legislative changes and that the Albanian Parliament abide and act upon the alterations. But this would imperil the April elections, and it mirrored perfectly Rama’s public argumentation.
The December article was widely published in the Albanian news media. Some commentators, and even politicians, spiced it up with further allegations about Calavera’s misconduct. By that time, no damage could be done since the opinion was out in the open. It was a damning denunciation of Rama’s abuse of power in order to boost his chances in the April 25 general elections.
What surprised many was a Varhelyi pre-Christmas tweet expressing his trust in Calavera and denouncing false allegations in the media and social networks about her. Whoever thought it as an exaggerated esprit de corps, or even as a variation of the Stockholm syndrome – honi soit qui mal y pense!
This curious French sentence in the English coat of arms sums it up. Varhelyi had Calavera fired; not exactly sacked in disgrace and pilloried on the Rue de la Loi. This is not the prevailing style within the European Commission. Calavera was eventually marooned in the translation unit where she can do no political harm anymore.
We have written in the past years about the unaccountable and even arrogant senior bureaucrats in the Commission who routinely disregard the Commissioners and do as they please. They are the main reason for the much talked about “democratic deficit” within the EU.
The Lisbon Treaty tried to tackle it by empowering the European Parliament and enhancing the Commission’s accountability. It was the right thing to do. Still, bureaucratic inertia had its way with reality. Since then, many Commissioners haven’t understood his or her real power and responsibility. In some instances, they haven’t shown any interest in them.
Commissioner Varhelyi deserves applause for quietly calling a spade a spade and acting upon it. His good relationship with von der Leyen has surely helped him.
The Nasty Squad in the Commission, which enabled so much of Rama’s authoritarianism, state capture and underworld collusion has now lost Calavera. Federica Mogherini is long gone, Johannes Hahn has been refused the Enlargement portfolio and Matuella, the Albania Unit chief in the Enlargement Department has been removed and sent far away, just like Calavera.
Luigi Soreca, the EU Ambassador in Tirana who was mentioned along with Calavera in Varhelyi’s now-famous pre-Christmas tweet, is still around. Our sources in the EU Delegation tell us they are not sure whether he represents the EU in front of the Albanian authorities or rather he plays the role of Rama’s messenger for Brussels and his domestic audience. Soreca very recently tested positive for COVID-19. We wish him good health and won’t deal with him until he fully recovers.
Have we missed anyone? Romana Vlahutin, for instance? She doesn’t deal with Albania anymore. Much like Calavera and Matuella, she still has a plush job in the Commission cut out for her. We were the first to expose her real estate dealings that involved European tax money paying a triple market price for an ambassadorial residence. The then-chairperson of the Budget Control Committee in the European Parliament, Ingeborg Graessle (Germany, EPP), called the purchase “the best way for us to lose credibility while we call on Albania and others to fight corruption”.
Since then, we have seen reports, evidence and witnesses indicating the wrongdoings of Madame Vlahutin in Albania. When fully corroborated, we will come back to this. If that is the case, we would hope OLAF would perform a bit better than on the previous occasion.
In the meantime, we wish Varhelyi a lucky hand in filling the vacancies. /New Europe, January 29, 2021

Tags: europeoliver varheley

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