European Union
Statement summary
Von der Leyen urges Albania to maintain reforms on its path to EU membership
Von der Leyen urges Albania to maintain reforms on its path to EU membership. Von der Leyen reports that Albania has received 213 million euros through the Growth Plan.
Dear Edi, It is always a pleasure to see you and to be in Tirana. My experience is that Albanians carry Europe in their hearts. It's wonderful to be back. And you have been working hard to turn Albania's European dream into reality. So my first message is simple: the goal is in sight. Albania is among the frontrunners in our accession process. Since I was last here, Albania has made remarkable progress. You opened the final cluster of negotiating chapters. And in July, you closed your first three chapters. Including external relations. This is important progress. It means Albania is fully aligned with our common foreign and security policy. We see the world with the same eyes, and this is very important for the accession process. We stand together when our values and interests are challenged. I also want to convey not only to the Albanian people but also to the European Union citizens...