Rama meets the President of the European Council/Discussions on the integration of Albania and the region

2025-04-14 15:56:00, Politikë CNA

Rama meets the President of the European Council/Discussions on the integration

Prime Minister Edi Rama is in Brussels today, where he was received by the President of the European Council Antonio Costa. Together they also held a face-to-face meeting to discuss the progress made in the negotiation process, as well as preparations for the European Political Community Summit on May 16.

Prime Minister Edi Rama heads the Albanian delegation in these talks, consisting of ministers, deputy ministers and heads of work for relevant chapters.

Upon his arrival, Prime Minister Rama and European Council President Antonio Costa also gave a statement to the media present.

In his speech, Rama said that integration talks have a special importance at this moment and time and of course the region will also be discussed.

"I am very pleased to be here with the President of the European Council, whose wisdom and attention to our country and region is something that I greatly appreciate. Today is certainly a very good day for us because we have another conference and we open other chapters, while with the President I am very grateful for the time he has dedicated to me to have a conversation about the progress we are making in this process and then also about the upcoming summit for the European political community, which is an activity, a very important event in general, but has a special importance at this moment, in time and of course we will talk about the region to which the President is particularly committed. So, there is a lot to discuss, but overall I am very, very encouraged by these developments and we are extremely committed to fulfilling all the tasks of the calendar which is very ambitious to close all negotiations within 2027", said Rama.

President Costa said that enlargement to the Western Balkans is a clear priority for the EU and is the most important geostrategic investment.

"Enlargement to the Western Balkans is a clear priority for the EU and is the most important geostrategic investment for the peace, prosperity and stability of our continent, and it is truly encouraging to see the progress Albania has made on this journey.

Today we are opening another group of chapters and our ambition is to open further groups of chapters to be negotiated during this year because we have a very concrete calendar and we want to achieve it and this is very important for Albania, but I think this is also a very important sign for the entire region because the best way to guarantee prosperity, peace and stability in the Western Balkans is with the EU and membership in it.

"Europe is more than the EU, but it is increasingly important that we are all united because united we are stronger and the world needs a stronger Europe," said European Council President Antonio Costa. /CNA