Albania’s EU integration accelerates with regional backing

The Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, Elisa Spiropali, participated today in the 19th Conference of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative countries, held in Ioannina, Greece.

In her speech, Spiropali stated that the European Union is facing many challenges, CE Report quotes ATA.

“These challenges,” Spiropali emphasized, “require a bigger, stronger, safer, and more united Europe. They demand a new Europe in a dramatically changing world. In this new Europe, political borders will increasingly align with its geographical and cultural borders.”

“Enlargement, more than ever before, no longer represents a burden but a solution, and the countries of the Western Balkans are no longer an additional problem but an added value for the EU,” said the Speaker of the Parliament.

“This truth, previously accepted by our countries, is now also being accepted by European institutions and member states,” Spiropali added.

“The holding of the 6th Summit of the European Political Community in Tirana—the first summit held in a Western Balkans country and a member state of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative—reconfirmed the importance of the region and Albania’s commitment to our joint projects,” she said.

Speaking about the parliamentary elections on May 11, Spiropali underlined that “the elections reconfirmed the governing majority, even with a clearer and more solid result than four years ago. But more important and meaningful than the result is the fact that the governing majority was reconfirmed because of the clear plan for Albania’s European perspective.”

“We have set as a national strategic objective membership in the EU by 2030 and the completion of the technical negotiation process by 2027,” said the Speaker of the Parliament, adding that “this objective has now become a plan agreed upon with European institutions, the European Parliament, the European Commission, and has gained the support of member states. This support has been expressed by the President of the European Commission, Von der Leyen, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, and reminds us how far we have come.”

Spiropali expressed gratitude that the member states of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, who are also EU member states—Greece, Italy, Croatia, and Slovenia—are strong supporters of Albania’s membership.

“Last week, during the official visit of the President of France, Macron, to Tirana, he announced France’s support for this national objective of Albania. This support was also clearly expressed by the Prime Minister of Italy, Meloni, and leaders of EU member states during the 6th Summit of the European Political Community,” said Spiropali.

“Holding this summit in Albania reconfirmed our vision for union with the EU, as the candidate country that is moving fastest and most decisively toward this goal,” said the Speaker of the Parliament.

Spiropali emphasized that “Albania has only one Plan A toward its future destination, and that is the European Union.”

She stressed that “EU membership enjoys strong popular support. Polls show that 95 percent of the population support membership. This makes Albania the most pro-EU country in Europe.”

“EU membership has full and consensual support in the Albanian Parliament. There are times when Albanian parliamentarians disagree even about the time or the weather, but regarding our European future, all political parties and all deputies of the Albanian Parliament have been, are, and will be in agreement,” the Speaker said.

“We are clear that membership is not a gift, nor a pragmatic geopolitical solution or due to international circumstances. We are fully aware that this is a merit-based process, and we are working on all chapters and criteria to guarantee welfare and democratization, rule of law, consolidation of democratic institutions, independence of government branches, and consolidation of an independent judiciary system,” Spiropali continued.

She stressed that “the progress in a short time, as recognized by European institutions, is very significant, even rapid and unstoppable. Albania gained candidate status in 2014, and in 2022 began holding intergovernmental conferences with the European Union to officially open negotiations. Since the first conference held in Brussels on July 19, 2022, five intergovernmental conferences have taken place, the last of which was held yesterday, May 22, in Brussels.”

Spiropali underlined that “Albania aims to open negotiations on all chapters by 2025.”

“Sustainable economic growth, good neighborly policies, leadership in regional cooperation processes, 100 percent alignment of foreign and security policy with the European Union, strategic partnership with the United States of America, active and appreciated contribution as a NATO member, protection against non-Western and undemocratic influences — I can say without hesitation that these have made Albania a leading country in the development of regional integration and contribution to security in the Western Balkans,” said the Speaker.

Spiropali added that “the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans presents an extraordinary opportunity for Albania. The approval of pre-financing for the region, as part of the Growth Plan, will stimulate economic development, build national and regional connecting infrastructure, and assist in implementing the necessary reforms for our integration into the EU market.”

“The European Parliament’s decision to open the Regional Office for the Western Balkans in Tirana is another sign of our close cooperation. Our countries have great potential. Albania will continue to promote regional cooperation to bring our peoples and countries closer together,” concluded Spiropali.