Rama shares footage from meeting with Von der Leyen: We are preparing to start closing the chapters. European Commission President: Albania, impressive progress

Prime Minister Edi Rama has published on Facebook moments from the reception of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Tirana, at the start of her tour of the Western Balkan countries. During the meeting, Rama said Albania is preparing to close the chapters of its negotiations with the European Union, stressing that the aim is for part of this process to be completed before the end of this year.

“We are preparing to start closing the chapters soon, specifically before the end of this year, and then to continue intensively next year, with a considerable part of our chapters already open,” Rama said.

The prime minister also spoke about the fight against organised crime and corruption, describing it as one of the unchanged points on the agenda of Albania and the European Union. According to Rama, Albania has made progress in this direction, adding that “if until yesterday corruption was the system, today the system is fighting corruption”. In his remarks, Rama also underlined that the European Union’s enlargement process is two-sided and that the EU itself must prepare for the accession of new countries.

For her part, Ursula von der Leyen praised Albania’s progress in the European integration process.

“It is a great pleasure to return to Tirana, and my experience is such that Albanians hold Europe in their hearts,” von der Leyen said, adding that Albanians have worked hard to turn the country’s European aspiration into reality. The European Commission President declared that the goal of Albania’s membership “is visible on the horizon”, while describing the country as among the frontrunners in the accession process. “Albania has once again made impressive progress. Albania’s membership will not only make Albania stronger, but will make the European Union stronger,” von der Leyen said. After Albania, the European Commission President continues her Western Balkans tour with visits to Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia.