As part of his agenda in Brussels, Rama held a meeting with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy, who also serves as Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas.

The summit aims to underscore the importance of political and economic ties between the EU and the Western Balkans, particularly in the current geopolitical context and the need for increasingly close links between the two sides.

The government head is also set to take part in the plenary session titled “Deepening cooperation and advancing gradual integration, including ‘Roam Like at Home’, as well as the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans,” chaired by European Council President Antonio Costa.

/m.m/j.p/u.sh/

Kurti also stated that the EU takes another step by granting Kosovo the candidate status.

During the meeting, PM Kurti expressed gratitude to Kallas for the EU support and the two discussed the EU-Kosovo ties, the reform agenda and the Growth Plan.

Kurti underlined Kosovo’s alignment with EU foreign policy, saying the country has made considerable progress in delivering on domestic reforms.

He thanked Kallas for the EU’s decision to begin lifting the punitive measures on the country, saying the measures should be totally removed.

According to him, Kosovo should be granted the candidate country status “as the most advanced democracy in the Western Balkans.”

With regards to the EU-mediated dialogue, PM Kurti put emphasis on the need for full implementation of the Basic Agreement for the normalization of relations and its Annex, underlining that Serbia should be held accountable for the September 2023 armed attack in Banjska, and for the extradition of Milan Radoičić, now formally indicted in Kosovo.

/Kosovapress/u.sh/

Speaking at a press conference in Prishtina, part of a Western Balkans tour, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated that EU is ready to support Kosovo, but the country’s future should be a strategic priority for political leaders.

Commenting on the ways to lift the punitive measures imposed on Kosovo by the EU in 2023, Kallas underlined the de-escalation of the situation in the country’s north.

Kallas stated that normalizing relations with Serbia, she said, remains “the only path to a more secure and prosperous future.”

/KosovaPress/u.sh/

Kallas will also visit Serbia and North Macedonia on her second tour to the region.

During her visit to Kosovo, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will hold meetings with political leaders, civil society, and international missions, as part of Brussels’ ongoing commitment to peace and integration in the Western Balkans.

The EU’s diplomacy chief Kallas is scheduled to appear at a press conference on May 22 at the Europe House in Prishtina.

Kallas’ visit comes at a time when Kosovo authorities are repeating calls on EU to lift punitive measures against the country, demanding that the move takes place before the normalization dialogue with Serbia can resume.

On its part, the EU has called for a de-escalation of the situation in Kosovo, as authorities continue to close down parallel Serbian institutions in the country’s north, prompting Brussels’ reaction.

/REL/u.sh/

On Sunday, the people of Albania exercised their democratic right to vote, electing their representatives to the Parliament. We congratulate all the competent authorities that ensured smooth operations across the country. These elections also marked the introduction of out-of-country voting for the first time.

According to the preliminary findings and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, the elections were managed generally in an inclusive and transparent manner, the election day being calm and well organised, despite some shortcomings.

Elections overall were competitive and professionally conducted, and candidates were generally able to campaign freely, although some reported facing intimidation. The vote however took place in a highly polarised environment, in which contestants did not enjoy a level playing field. Due to the widespread use of administrative resources and institutional leverage, it can be that the ruling majority had an advantage of incumbency. Numerous allegations were made of pressure on voters, especially public employees. Coordinated efforts to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes is a welcome development and follow-up is necessary to address persistent concerns of electoral malpractice. Media independence continues to be an issue and its electoral coverage has continued to give prominence to the main parties and transparency of campaign financing also remained limited.

The EU will closely follow electoral developments until the final certification of the results. All political forces should ensure the continued functioning of the country’s institutions.

We encourage Albania to continue pursuing all reforms required for its future accession to the EU, including the adoption of a further electoral reform addressing all ODIHR’s key recommendations, and those that are still outstanding from previous elections. Albania’s EU integration process is a strategic national objective, and a whole-of-society project, which is strongly supported by Albania’s citizens. We reiterate our call for a constructive and inclusive political dialogue as all of Albania’s political parties and all sectors of society, from civil society organisations to local communities, have a role to play in further advancing the country’s EU accession process.

In a post on the social media, the EU’s foreign policy chief said that construction of the Durrës–Rrogozhinë railway, part of Corridor VIII, will create new jobs, enhance trade, and improve connectivity, bringing Albania closer to its neighbours and the EU.

“I was pleased to witness the signing of an agreement between Albania and the European Investment Bank to reconstruct the railway between the port of Durrës and Rrogozhinë. This will create new jobs, enhance trade, and improve connectivity, bringing Albania closer to its neighbours and the EU,” Kallas wrote.

EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visited Albania today. Kallas was received by Prime Minister Edi Rama, and the President of Republic Bajram Begaj.

Kallas also attended the EU-Albania Security and Defense Dialogue and the signing ceremony of the agreement with EIB on reconstruction of Durrës-Rrogozhinë railway.

The official visit to Tirana is part of her first trip to the Western Balkans, with stops in Montenegro, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

/k.s//a.f/u.sh/

According to the European Commission’s official website, during her stay in Tirana, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas is expected to meet with President Bajram Begaj first.

The EU foreign policy chief will then meet Prime Minister Edi Rama, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, and the Minister of Defence Pirro Vengu.

Kallas will attend the Albania-EU dialogue forum on security policy and an agreement ceremony with the European Investment Bank.

Her Balkan tour will include visits to Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she will hold high-level meetings.

The visit to Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Montenegro on April 7-8 is her first trip to the Western Balkans since Kallas took office as High Representative of the EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

/u.sh/

“It is really great to start this Western Balkans summit with this signing ceremony. We have already supported Albania’s Armed Forces and both sides want to do more, so this agreement shows that we will do more together. It clearly shows investment in our common security. It shows that Albania will be part of all these important roundtables where we will discuss the security and defense of Europe. It also allows us to expand our cooperation, both in Europe and in the Western Balkans,” she said.

Kallas further noted that Albania has made steady progress on the EU path.

“Albania has made steady progress in the accession process. I am happy that we will discuss more in today’s meetings. I look forward to our future cooperation,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kallas.

This strategic partnership will give a push to Albania’s efforts to counter hybrid and cyber threats, extremism and will further enhance our country’s security and defence capabilities, contributing to a safer and more stable Europe. /j.p/p.s./