TIRANA, April 7 /ATA/ – Albania is pushing to complete the accession negotiations by 2027 and join the European Union by 2030, the Minister of State for the Relations with Parliament, Taulant Balla stated in remarks at a two-day conference on landmark Willy Brandt Programme for EU Enlargement hosted by the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament in Brussels.
Balla, also Socialist Party’s political coordinator for the diaspora, underlined that Albania embarked on the EU accession process in 2014 after Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia, but the country is surpassing its neighbors and progressing rapidly on the path to joining the bloc.
“I have been participating in such events since the programme was launched and I can now say that Albania’s path to EU membership is not just a political ambition, but a national mission to break up from the shadows of the past and harboring ourselves in a future of peace, freedom and equal rights. This is our only plan for the future and we have no plan B. And we are ready to deliver starting next month after winning the May 11 elections. Our ambition is to wrap up all the technical negotiations by 2027 and become full-fledged EU member by 2030,” Balla said in his opening remarks.
The Socialist official also called for advancement of Kosovo’s path to EU membership by opening the accession negotiations.
“Kosovo deserves opening the EU accession negotiations as soon as possible. We also want North Macedonia to begin the negotiations,” Balla said.
State Minister Balla also responded to a question by European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Serbia, Tonino Picula, about Albania’s relations with the United States of America after President Trump’s reelection, stating Albania is the most the most pro-American and European nation in Europe.
“More than 90% of Albanians support EU membership. We are also lucky to be the most pro-American country in Europe. Mr. Trump’s victory could be seen as a huge opportunity for Europe to consider stronger cooperation,” Balla said.
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