TIRANA, Feb 4 /ATA/ – Swedish Ambassador to Albania Elsa Hastad said Saturday that further enlargement of the European Union is one of the main priorities of Sweden’s rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first six months of 2023, underlining that the EU integration process requires strong commitment and will take a long time.
In a televised interview, Hastad put emphasis on the continued implementation of the justice reform in Albania, as well as the upcoming mayoral elections on May 14.
“For us, the launch of the accession negotiations represents a cornerstone of a process that will take a long time. It took a very long time for Sweden too. Real work for Albania starts now that the accession talks have been launched. Sweden has been assisting Albania in this process for 20 years and your success is our success too, because we we have been waiting for this to happen,” she said.
Ambassador Hastad said that “Sweden has helped Albania for 20 years, because our priority is expansion.”
“We have supported the entire Western Balkans. We have allocated 500 million euros for a period of 7 years only in preparation for EU membership. Sweden will work hard together with you. We are working with agencies and governments on the environment. We have assisted and prepared Albania to open Chapter 27, which deals with the environment and climate change,” she said.
Highlighting that Albania was one of the first countries to support Sweden’s membership with NATO, Hastad said “we are happy to help Albania become a member of the European Union, because it is in our interest to help you.”
Speaking about the May 14 local elections, Swedish diplomat said “elections are the core of democracy and everyone is watching Albania now.
“Europe is watching. Sweden is watching, because your progress is our progress. Elections are extremely important. My message is: Vote! Do not sell the vote, do not buy the vote, and do not waste it! Many people have fought for the right to vote. Local elections are crucial, because important decisions are made at the local level. Active opposition is needed in democracy and a governing party to work together so that things can change,” she said.
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