Bulgaria Reaffirms Support for Albania’s EU Path

At the start of Albanian Parliament Speaker Elisa Spiropali’s two-day visit to Bulgaria on Wednesday, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov congratulated Albania on its progress toward EU membership, calling it a reflection of the country's societal maturity. He reaffirmed Bulgaria’s continued support for Albania’s European integration, CE Report quotes BTA

Zhelyazkov praised Albania as a loyal NATO ally and emphasized the importance of joint efforts for regional security, referencing recent NATO commitments to increase defence spending. He also highlighted the need for better connectivity in the Balkans, particularly through improved transport infrastructure like Corridor 8.

The two officials discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas such as the economy, defence, energy, transport, AI, and innovation. Zhelyazkov also commended Albania’s work to protect minority rights, calling the Bulgarian minority in Albania a vital link in bilateral relations.