TIRANA, December 1 /ATA/ Albania’s Speaker of the Parliament Lindita Nikolla held a meeting today with President of the European Parliament David Sassoli.
“Your initiative to establish a dialogue between the European Parliament and the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Western Balkan countries is an important instrument for accelerating the movement of the countries of the region towards the European Union. We think that it is unfair that opening of EU accession negotiations for Albania and North Macedonia to be hindered by factors that have nothing to do with our countries meeting the integration standards”, stated Nikolla.
Further on, she briefed President Sassoli on the progress of developments and reforms in the country and efforts to build a positive climate and constructive dialogue with the opposition.
On his part, President of the European Parliament Sassoli said that, “Good discussion today with Lindita Nikolla, Speaker of the Parliament. I reiterated the European Parliament’s unwavering support for the accession negotiations of Albania and North Macedonia to begin without delay. Parliament will always be a voice for the Western Balkans in the EU”.
“The European Parliament will continue to insist that the First Albania-EU Inter-governmental Roundtable be held as soon as possible. We should not disappoint the peoples of the Western Balkans with our delays in the enlargement process and give room to non-Western influence in the region,” he said./p.s./
