Speaking at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama, von der Leyen said “Albanians have Europe in their hearts” and praised efforts to turn the country’s European aspirations into reality.

“You and Albania have worked hard to turn Albania’s European dream into reality. So my first message is simple: the goal is on the horizon. Albania is among the frontrunners in our accession process,” von der Leyen told Rama.

EC President said her assessment was based on her regular monitoring of Albania’s progress, noting that she had also visited Tirana last year.

“I can make this assessment because I come every year to see the progress, and since I was here last year, Albania has once again made remarkable progress,” she said.

Von der Leyen noted that Albania had opened the final negotiating clusters and provisionally closed its first three chapters in July, including the chapter on external relations.

“This is very significant progress because it means Albania is fully aligned with our common foreign and security policy – 100%,” she said. “This means we see the world through the same eyes, and that is very important in the accession process.”

She also stressed that the EU and Albania stood together when their values and interests were challenged.

“I want to convey not only to Albanian citizens but also to EU citizens that Albania’s accession will not only make Albania stronger, but will also make the European Union stronger,” von der Leyen said.

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Speaking at a joint press conference in Tirana alongside Albania’s Europe and Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha, Austria’s European and International Affairs Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, Macinka said the joint visit underscored clear support for Albania’s EU path.

“We are here to support Albania on its journey towards EU membership,” he said, recalling that the country submitted its application in 2009 during the Czech presidency of the EU Council.

Macinka said Albania’s progress provides a solid foundation for the next stages of accession talks, highlighting what he described as “impressive” momentum in opening negotiating clusters over the past year.

He acknowledged that the process is entering a more demanding phase but said Albania has both the capacity and political will to advance.

Turning to the Western Balkans, Macinka stressed the region’s importance for Europe’s stability and security, reiterating that its countries belong in the EU and that their accession perspective must remain credible and merit-based.

He also described Albania as a reliable partner contributing to regional dialogue and cooperation.

The visit took place in the context of the Slavkov Three (S3) format, a political cooperation platform between the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria, established in 2015.

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Von der Leyen also commended Albanian government and affirmed support for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s ambition to wrap up the negotiation chapters by end of 2027.

“My first message is very clear: Albania is on the right track towards the European Union. You have come a long way, you have made progress. And I want to emphasize that there has been a stunning and outstanding record speed acceleration in the last three to four years.

Five of six negotiating clusters are already open. We plan to open the last one this autumn. I know the personal effort you, Prime Minister, and your team, have invested in this journey. Your goal is to close negotiations by 2027. This is ambitious but we like ambition. And let me assure you: we will be with you every step of the way,” Von der Leyen stated.

Von der Leyen also emphasized Albania’s full alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy.

“Because the geopolitical momentum is now. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has reshaped our continent. Every European nation must choose its place. Albania has made its choice, very clearly. You are fully aligned with the European Union’s foreign and security policy. Together we are acting as one,” she said.

Highlighting economic integration, von der Leyen pointed to Albania’s access to the EU single market and new investment opportunities.

“Getting closer is not only about geopolitics. It is also smart business. We will discuss this at the investment conference later today. Two years ago, we launched the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The principle is very straightforward. Your economy gains access to our Single Market and new EU investments. In exchange, you deliver on key reforms,” the EC President noted.

“The door of areas of our Single Market is open to your companies and our companies gain a bigger common market. Everybody wins. The Growth Plan has the potential to double the economy of the Western Balkans in this decade. And it is already delivering,” she added.

Von der Leyen provided three examples.

“Strong reform progress has unlocked EUR 100 million in funding, which we are now deploying. Albania is on track to access the full Growth Plan fund of around EUR 1 billion,” she said.

“Second, Albania joined the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), which seemed ambitious at the time. Since last week, transfers between Albania and the EU have become safer and cheaper. Third example is the roaming agreement reached with operators in 2023. By next year, roaming charges between Albania and the EU will be eliminated,” the EU chief announced.

Concluding her remarks, von der Leyen stressed the human dimension of EU enlargement.

“My final message: this is perhaps the strongest case for enlargement, not just economically or geopolitically, but because of the people. Recent studies show that 90% of Albanians support EU membership. Two-thirds of young people aged 15-40 back enlargement, sending a clear signal. The next generation will live in a strong, secure, and united EU,” she said.

Von der Leyen is in Tirana for the inaugural EU-Western Balkans Investment Forum, held October 13–14, aimed at boosting economic cooperation and investment opportunities in the region.

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Addressing the opening of “Diplo 2025,” a three-day conference of Albanian ambassadors held in Tirana, Murtezani emphasized that Albania’s EU accession process strengthens the collective European direction of the region.

“Every move Albania makes toward the EU brings the region along with it – especially Albanians living throughout the Western Balkans. This makes Albania a key political actor in the region,” he said.

Murtezani underlined that Albanians, historically and politically, have consistently upheld a pro-European and pro-Western orientation.

Despite the political challenges across the region – Murtezani went on noting – Albanian communities have never questioned their European trajectory.

“EU accession is not just a geostrategic choice, but a shared journey toward European values,” he added.

Murtezani said that the governments in Tirana, Skopje, and Prishtina all regard EU membership as an absolute priority and are working at full capacity to deliver on this objective.

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Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Ambassador Bergner told Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) that the country has already opened four of six negotiation clusters in just 8-9 months, marking a record progress in its EU accession process.

The German diplomat credited the Albanian negotiation team for their strong technical performance and emphasized that EU membership remains a shared aspiration across the country’s political spectrum.

Bergner reaffirmed Germany’s ongoing commitment to support Albania, particularly in boosting administrative capacities, rule of law, governance, and anti-corruption efforts – key issues identified in the latest EU Progress Report.

In addition to political cooperation, Germany continues to back Albania’s economic development through projects in agriculture, small and medium enterprises, infrastructure, and energy supply.

Bergner underscored that German aid combines financial support with capacity-building initiatives to ensure sustainable progress.

“We are confident Albania can achieve its goals, and Germany will stand by its side throughout this journey,” the Ambassador concluded.

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