TIRANA, May 15 /ATA/ Minister of Finance, Ervin Mete, participated on Wednesday in the meeting of the Ministers of Finance and European Affairs of the Western Balkans in Kotor, Montenegro, with the theme “One region, common vision.”
This meeting, which is held one day before the Summit of Regional Leaders, discussed the Growth Plan and concrete measures aimed at accelerating the economic convergence of the region with the European Union.
In his remarks, Minister Mete said that the process of approving the Growth Plan within the EU has moved at a fast pace. He added that it will contribute to speeding up reforms and increasing convergence between the countries of the Western Balkans and the EU.
“The Growth Plan has built up a momentum of reforms. We are already in the stage of final agreement on the measures of this Plan and the financial instruments related to it are expected to go through Parliament within the summer,” he said.
The minister emphasized that Albania is at an advanced stage in terms of membership in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), where it is among the first countries in the region that has already sent the pre-application and is preparing to apply officially in June.
Also, Minister Mete appreciated the opportunities offered by the EU through the Growth Plan, where the citizens of the Western Balkan countries are expected to benefit from a series of facilities and concrete measures, before becoming members of the EU.
The General Director of the EC Enlargement Directorate, Gert Jan Koopman, highlighted the progress made by our country and other countries of the Western Balkans in the integration process, adding that the Growth Plan includes a set of ambitious and challenging reforms for the region.
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