Albania has opened Cluster II of its EU accession negotiations, a significant step forward in its integration process. The development was highlighted at a joint press conference in Luxembourg featuring Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, and Polish Foreign Minister Rados?aw Sikorski.
Sikorski praised Albania’s progress and commitment, stating, “We prioritize the further enlargement of the EU. The chapters we opened today are vital for Albania’s economy. I congratulate Prime Minister Rama for your efforts towards the EU path. I know that the majority of the Albanian people support you on this path. I congratulate Albania, which is a reliable partner in the field of security and a supporter of Ukraine, and I congratulate the citizens of Albania.”
Prime Minister Rama emphasized the profound significance of EU membership for Albania, saying, “For Albania, EU membership is much more than a political or economic ambition; it is an existential choice, from a place where we were never allowed to choose for centuries and generations to a future that we have always wanted to have. We know very well and have learned in the hardest way that our individual freedoms, our equality before the law, and the way of life we want for our children and future generations cannot be guaranteed anywhere else but within the European Union.”
Commissioner Kos echoed Rama’s sentiment, calling Albania “a success story of our enlargement process.” She pledged to be Albania’s “best advocate” in Brussels, urging Albania to continue its reform efforts. “The future of Albania is undoubtedly in the EU,” she affirmed.
Regarding the timeline for opening further chapters, Rama cautioned against seeking specific dates from the EU, drawing on past experience. “We have learned the hard way that with the EU, never ask for a date, but always be ready for the date, because we are here to meet the EU,” he stated, while reiterating Albania’s goal of completing negotiations by 2027 and joining the EU by 2030.
