12 minutes agoEC President: Supports Open Balkans Initiative
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)Albania has met all conditions for opening negotiations for membership in the European Union, and they must start as soon as possible, European Council President Charles Michel has said in Tirana on Friday. According to him, after the situation created by war in Ukraine, the European Union is looking at opportunities [...]
According to him, after the situation created by the war in Ukraine, the European Union is looking at opportunities to accelerate this process.
We must give new energy to the integration process to create new incentives for reform and accelerate the integration process. We're working on giving concrete results. We are speeding up integration”, he said at a joint conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
He also stopped at the idea of a new political union proposed by France's president, Emmanuel Macron, and supported Mr. Michel, which he said aims to give new energy to the integration process of the Western Balkans region.
Macron proposed creating a new political organisation to unite the countries of the continent that share EU values, but are not part of the bloc.
We think it's good to discuss this with our friends, not to find another excuse, but to give a greater incentive to this”, Michel said.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said he supports this vision and that this would be “a fantastic” thing.
“The idea of associate EU member is an idea that is getting more support. We don't know how and when it will materialize, but I've followed and fully supported the vision of President of France”, Rama said.
Rama reiterated that for the time being, Albania is not separated from Northern Macedonia on the common road to opening negotiations, but will seek division from this country if the process does not continue in June.
Michelle said you understood that attitude.
The “of course, there is impatience in Albania to start negotiations as soon as possible. I am fully committed to solving difficulties. We'll make the assessment in June. If this does not happen, we should review the situation. The prime minister's position is fully reasonable and justified”, Michel said.
The president of the European Council and the prime minister also discussed the initiative for regional co-operation the Open Balkans. Michel said he supports this initiative.
This [intensation] will also facilitate the approach of the Western Balkans to the European Union”, Michel said.
Mr. Michel's visit to Tirana comes a day after the European Parliament approved two reports on the accession process of Albania and Northern Macedonia to the European Union.
