TIRANA, June 25 /ATA/ – Former French President François Hollande said Albania’s target of joining the European Union by 2030 is a realistic one, citing the country’s steady progress in the accession process.
In an interview with Top Channel during a visit to Tirana, Hollande recalled that he was France’s President when Albania was granted EU candidate status.
“Many years have passed since then. Considerable efforts have been made, milestones have been reached and accession chapters have been opened one after another. Therefore, the 2030 target is the right one,” he said. “There are still some issues to address, and I know that both the European Union and the Albanian government are working on them.”
Hollande noted that the accession process will next require ratification by EU member states.
He also endorsed the Franco-German proposal for the gradual and structured integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union.
“The proposal would allow candidate countries that are ready to join, but are not yet EU members, to participate in meetings on policy areas where they have already met the conditions for accession,” Hollande said. “This gradual approach allows candidate countries, including those in the Western Balkans, to become part of the process before full membership, rather than waiting until 2030 or beyond.”
However, he stressed that candidate countries should not view the initiative as another postponement of accession.
“It must be a process that leaves no doubt that full membership will be achieved,” he said. “This applies to Albania and Montenegro, while Ukraine will join once it has fulfilled all the necessary conditions. The timelines for Albania and Montenegro are not the same as those for Ukraine and Moldova.”
According to Hollande, geopolitical developments have accelerated the process and strengthened support among EU member states for Albania and Montenegro to join before Ukraine and Moldova.
“But even without these developments, the process would have continued to move forward,” he said. “Europe needs the Western Balkans as part of the European Union, not only because of the war in Ukraine or the threats facing Moldova. The Western Balkans belong in the EU for reasons linked to stability in the region, preventing external interference and strengthening Europe’s security through the protection of its borders,” he added.
Speaking about bilateral ties, Hollande said relations between Albania and France are rooted in cultural and people-to-people links, while both countries also share a commitment to protecting pluralism in Europe.
“We know that Europe is witnessing the rise of populist far-right movements that threaten to weaken the European Union,” he said. “I believe Albania’s membership will strengthen the democratic current within the EU.”
/j.p/u.sh/
