TIRANA, November 17/ATA/ Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Elisa Spiropali stated today that Albania can achieve its national objective of closing EU accession negotiations by 2027 and membership within the current decade.
During a joint press conference in Tirana with the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany Johann Wadephul, Spiropali made a brief history of diplomatic relations between the two countries and emphasized that, “The fall of the Berlin Wall would be a breakthrough even in tearing down the Albanian isolation fence.”
Spiropali stated that Wadephul’s visit carries another special symbolism. “It coincides with a historic moment for Albania. In Brussels, within the framework of the 7th Intergovernmental Conference, today there was opened Cluster V, Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion”.
Spiropali underlined that, “This was the last remaining Cluster and a milestone on our path forward”.
“After 14 months of progress at an unprecedented pace of negotiations, we have marked the end of the technical process of opening negotiations focused on reforms, implementation, criteria and standards in all sectors”, emphasized Spiropali.
The minister stated that, our national objective is ambitious, but today fully achievable.
“With the support of the EC and the member states, let’s close the negotiations within 2027 and be ready for membership within the current decade,” said Spiropali, adding that, in Albania, 92% of the citizens support integration, higher than anywhere else in the region.
Spiropali also expressed gratitude to Germany for the unwavering political and technical support it has given Albania on its European journey.
“Germany, the locomotive of the EU, its political and economic engine, has always maintained a fair approach to the enlargement process, a merit-based approach, based on principles and a committed approach,” said Spiropali
Wadephul is conducting a tour into the six Western Balkan countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia. /gj.m/a.f/p.s./
