TIRANA, Sept 21 /ATA/The 22nd meeting of the EU-Albania Parliamentary Stabilisation and Association Committee (SAPC) begins on Monday in Tirana and will continue on Tuesday, September 22.
The meeting is set to begin at 10:00 a.m. and will be chaired by the co-chairs of the delegations, Taulant Balla, in his capacity as chairman of the delegation of the Albanian Parliament, and Marco Tarquinio, chairman of the European Parliament delegation. The meeting will also be addressed by the Speaker of the Parliament, Niko Peleshi.
MEPs from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, Chiara Gemma and Cristian Terheș, will also take part in the two-day meeting. Gemma is Vice-Chair of the European Parliament delegation to the EU-Albania Parliamentary Stabilisation and Association Committee.
The SAPC meeting is being held within the framework of parliamentary cooperation between Albania and the European Union and follows the 21st meeting, which took place on July 8–9 in Strasbourg. According to the European Parliament, the agenda of SAPC meetings includes issues related to Albania’s EU integration process, the rule of law, fundamental rights, the fight against organised crime and corruption, media freedom, sustainable development, and regional cooperation.
This year’s meeting is also expected to focus on the progress of the accession negotiations. In its announcement regarding the participation of its MEPs, the ECR group notes that Albania has opened all six negotiating clusters and considers the country an important partner for regional security and stability, including in the context of its NATO membership.
The same statement highlights the importance of effectively implementing reforms, strengthening the rule of law, enforcing adopted legislation, and reducing political polarisation. The ECR links the further progress of the accession process to the quality of the reforms and their concrete implementation.
The EU-Albania Parliamentary Stabilisation and Association Committee (SAPC) holds two meetings each year, one in Albania and one at the European Parliament, in Brussels or Strasbourg. The 22nd meeting is being held on September 21 and 22 in Tirana.
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