Speaking to Klan News television on Friday, Suard described the momentum of Albania’s reforms as “remarkable”, pointing in particular to progress on justice reform and the opening of negotiating clusters.

“Both the justice reform and the opening of negotiating clusters have moved forward. Now these chapters must be closed. Justice reform is, of course, essential, but it is not the only key criterion. Reforms must advance in all areas,” Suard said.

She said France remained confident in Albania’s ability to join the bloc “as quickly as possible”.

“I am surprised by comments suggesting the negotiations are blocked,” Suard said. “Nothing is blocked. This is a normal process in which each side must build confidence in the other.”

“It may be taking time, but what matters is the outcome. And we are close to achieving that outcome,” she added.

Suard also commented on Thursday’s visit to Albania by French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, describing it as timely and significant for bilateral ties.

“Our two countries are taking steps to deepen cooperation in several areas,” she said.

Highlighting judicial cooperation, Suard said France was ready to share its expertise with Albania, noting that parts of Albania’s legal framework had been inspired by French legal codes.

“French expertise in this field is recognised as a standard of excellence,” she said. “We are pleased to contribute our experience through cooperation with the School of Magistrates.”

On Albania’s cooperation with Eurojust and Europol, Suard described the two agencies as key partners in tackling organised crime and strengthening the rule of law.

“The Albanian police have all the necessary tools to work with them,” she said, citing investigations linked to the encrypted communications platform Sky ECC as an example of successful cooperation.

She said the partnership had enabled joint investigative teams, intelligence-sharing and coordinated operations producing “concrete results on the ground”.

“We have established three joint investigative teams in different areas – from thefts committed in France and the sale of stolen goods in Albania, to cyber fraud and drug trafficking,” Suard said, describing the fight against organised crime and narcotics trafficking as “the central pillars of cooperation”.

Addressing the issue of criminal assets, Suard said prison sentences alone were insufficient in combating organised crime.

“There is broad agreement that imprisonment alone is not enough, because many criminals are willing to serve prison terms while continuing to benefit from the proceeds of criminal activity,” she said.

“Assets must be identified and confiscated. France has longstanding experience in this field, including through a specialised agency and expertise in tracing illicit cryptocurrency proceeds.”

She added that French officials had been impressed by Albania’s practice of repurposing confiscated assets for the benefit of victims’ families and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Suard also commented on opposition protests, which have increasingly taken place on weekends, reiterating support for the right to demonstrate while condemning violence.

“As you know, I do not usually comment on Albania’s domestic politics, but I must say that the right to protest is universally recognised and deeply respected in France,” she said. “However, violence is absolutely unacceptable.”

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“European integration passes not only through culture but also through sustainable territorial development and cooperation,” Suard said, noting that President Emmanuel Macron had reiterated this support during his visits to Albania.

Former French European Affairs Minister and current Mayor of Chambéry Thierry Repentin, also attending the event, highlighted political ties and close cooperation between the two countries.

“Albania is in Europe, and we will accompany its EU membership process,” citing strong political ties and ongoing collaboration between the two countries,” Repentin said.

Repentin added that Chambéry and the south-eastern Albanian city of Korça are working on joint cultural and educational projects, including digital initiatives, under EU integration frameworks.

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The Economy Minister Gonxhja said that the meeting focused on the government to government (G2G) agreement and the bilateral cooperation on the sectors and the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation programmes.

The G2G agreement aims to strengthen the ties between the two countries and implement strategic projects on professional and technological development, contributing to Albania’s preparation as a market and as an economic reality for EU accession.

The Minister said that the bilateral cooperation focuses also on public services, investment, infrastructure upgrade and modernization, assistance to development of innovation ecosystem, e-government, cyber security, and employment of human resources to deliver on European Union standards.

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One day after the Olympic fire lighting ceremony and 100 days to go until the Games, French Embassy in Albania held a press conference to highlight main aspects of this major sports event.

The Games will be a massive celebration of sport in France and throughout the world. The Olympic and Paralympic Games will bring together more than 15,000 athletes, who are looking forward to race in 32 various sport disciplines.

More than 4500 medals will be awarded during this global sports event, which will host 203 delegations, as well as 120 heads of state and government.

The grandiose opening ceremony will begin with a six-km long parade of delegations on more than 80 boats on the Seine, to allow Paris witness a unique sports event.

French Ambassador to Albania, Catherine Suard, expressed hope for a successful edition of the Olympic Games and wished the best of luck and every success to the Albanian sportswomen and sportsmen set to take part in the Games.

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Agriculture Minister Denaj said that she and French diplomats explored new ways of bilateral cooperation in agriculture.

“We discussed ways how to continue cooperation in agriculture and the French project IVEA of the livestock institute IDELE in collaboration with Korça’s QTTB in a bid to turn it into an important training centre,” Denaj said.

Protection of Albania’s transhumance by UNESCO, and the experience exchange of this in this centuries-old common practice, given that France has made steps forward in identifying and protecting the paths of cattle migration to the north towards the stables, was another issue under discussion during the meeting.

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During the meeting, the two interlocutors reaffirmed the excellent relations between Albania and France.

French diplomat praised progress made by the Albanian government in its efforts to press ahead with the country’s European integration process.

Underlining the Prefect’s role as an integral part of the EU integration process, Barsacq said Prefect plays an important part in law enforcement and public policy.

In this context, Prefect Angoni expressed gratitude for France’s assistance to enhance capacity of public administration and confirmed her commitment to further promote inter-institutional cooperation as part of the EU ACQUIS obligations.

Prefect Angoni praised role of the French Alliance in Shkodra for providing local young people attend French universities and promote the exchange of cultural relations between the two countries.

With the support of the French Embassy in Albania, the OSCE Presence in Albania is expected to hold the first conference of the Prefects of the Regions of Albania on the role and importance of the Prefect in the process of Albania’s EU Integration.

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