TIRANA, October 28 /ATA/-The ambassador of the European Union delegation to Albania Luigi Soreca spoke in Tirana today at the Mediterranean University’s Conference on “US Policy in the Western Balkans”.
Addressing the participants at the conference, Soreca said that “In the Western Balkans and in Albania the EU and the USA work hand in hand. This close cooperation is based on a fundamental convergence of views and purpose”.
He explained that the Western Balkans is a key area for transatlantic cooperation. “The European Union and the United States are also close partners in countering security challenges, such as terrorism, cyber threats and hybrid threats. The fact that the European Union and the United States work together matters”, said Soreca.
The EU and the US, according to the ambassador, stand together in the commitment for Albania’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration
“There has been great disappointment in Albania and North Macedonia because the recent European Council could not agree to open EU accession talks with the two countries. I also know that our American friends had hoped for another decision. So did I. But the people in Albania and North Macedonia, and in fact the wider region, must know that the European Union’s commitment to the EU integration of Albania and its neighbors has not changed. The EU will continue to stand with Albania and the region in supporting their EU integration path. The issue remains high on the EU agenda and the overwhelming majority of EU leaders are determined to make progress on this path. In this commitment to the Western Balkans’ European and Euro-Atlantic integration, the European Union and United States therefore continue to stand together. We continue to work every day to support the governments and people in the region to make further progress on their reform paths,” underlined the EU ambassador.
Speaking about the reforms undertaken by the government in Albania, Soreca said, “Here in Albania, the justice reform exemplifies the strength of EU-US cooperation more than anything. We have been working together from Day 1 to support the Albanian institutions in designing and agreeing this historic reform. A reform that an overwhelming majority of Albanian citizens has been calling for and that will be a fundamental pillar for the rule of law and economic prosperity in the country. Both the European Union and the United States have mobilized their political, technical and financial support to make justice reform a success, and our experts continue to jointly accompany the process, including through the International Monitoring Operation. But the European Union and United States have taken joint leadership in supporting Albania in its reform efforts and in other areas, such as electoral reform, fight against corruption and organized crime”./r.e/p.s./
