TIRANA, October 1 /ATA/ – Following the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Tirana, the EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa praised Albania’s ongoing advancement toward European integration.
In a social media post, Ambassador Moreira de Sousa thanked President Von der Leyen for her visit to Albania, as well as the Albanian authorities for their warm welcome.
“The goal is in sight,” said President Von der Leyen, and Albania is among the frontrunners in the accession process. This is the result of years of hard work by the Albanians,” she stated.
The ambassador emphasized that the final phase of the process requires continued work in several areas.
“Now the last stretch is the most demanding one: strengthening justice and the rule of law, the electoral framework and the protection of Albania’s extraordinary nature,” Moreira de Sousa said.
She also underscored the importance of the engagement of political actors and dialogue with society. “As the President put it, this requires genuine engagement across political lines and a strong, continued dialogue with society,” the ambassador said.
Moreira de Sousa also highlighted her visit to the “Emin Duraku” school, describing it as the moment she will keep.
“Through EU4Schools, 63 schools have been rebuilt or renovated after the 2019 earthquake, and the children learning in them today are the reason this work matters,” she said.
The EU Ambassador underscored the importance that Albania’s accession would hold for the European Union itself.
“When Albania joins, it will make our Union stronger too,” concluded Sofia Moreira de Sousa. /e.i/a.f/r.e/p.s./
