Meta: Albania's Encouraging Progress Report

Albania's President, Ilir Meta, hosted the Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Tirana, Romana Vlahin, on the occasion of publishing the progress report for Albania from the European Commission.

The president welcomed the EC's recommendation for opening membership negotiations with Albania, naming it an encouraging, long-awaited and strategic act for the country's European future.

Meta praised the Commission as a precious and unappreciated friend of candidate countries, a major attractive force towards further EU enlargement.

Considering Albania's progress report on Albania in full harmony with the enlargement strategy aimed at a reliable perspective and deepening EU engagement in the Western Balkans, the head of state stressed the importance of adopting this approach and recommendation of the Commission by the European Council of June to launch the new stage of the membership negotiations process.

President Meta expressed satisfaction that this report -- and specifically the recommendation for opening negotiations -- finds all political, institutional and Albanian citizens united in the desire to advance as much and as soon as possible towards the EU, without question.

He voiced confidence that this moment would serve a deep and serious reflection for facing the big challenges ahead of us to make Albania a more hopeful European country.