Von der Leyen starts Balkans tour from Tirana; EU expected to back closing Albania’s talks in 2027

The European Commission announced at a press conference that on Wednesday, 30 September, President Ursula von der Leyen will start her tour of Western Balkan states from Tirana.

She will first meet President Begaj and then Prime Minister Rama.

The visit follows Von der Leyen’s statement that she will present a concrete timeline for the membership of Albania and Montenegro. Media sources in Brussels have confirmed that the European Commission is ready to officially support the conclusion of Albania’s EU accession negotiations in 2027.

On Thursday, the European Commission President will continue her regional tour in Pristina, where she will meet acting President Albulena Haxhiu and Prime Minister Albin Kurti. She will then travel to Podgorica and later Skopje. It is worth noting that Von der Leyen has postponed the visits to Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to a later date because of the upcoming elections. The honours held in both countries for war criminal Ratko Mladić may also have influenced the European Commission chief’s decision.