Socialist Party MP Erion Braçe has called for more support and protection for domestic production, raising concern over how Albanian exports are treated in the Croatian market.
Braçe referred to cases of Albanian fruit and vegetable shipments that have been stopped at the Croatian border due to problems with pesticide residues. He asked the Minister of Agriculture to take concrete measures to protect Albanian farmers and products.
The MP urged Albanian exporters to avoid the Croatian market, not only for selling products but also for re-exporting. At one point in the debate, Braçe made a statement that drew attention, questioning the quality of Croatian pepper production.
“If Croatia produces better peppers than us, I will give up my mandate as an MP”, he said. Braçe stressed that protecting domestic production must be a priority, but at the same time called for strict controls within Albania as well.
According to him, farmers who do not respect the waiting periods for pesticide use should be excluded from the market. He raised concern that the same problem also affects other Albanian products, such as mandarins and peaches, calling for more institutional attention to the agricultural sector.