Spain Fully Supports Albania’s Accession to European Union
Such an announcement has been made by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, AtoZSerwisPlus.pl reports.
“If there is an outstanding student in the European Union accession process, it is Albania because of its commitment and the reforms it has made,” Sanchez stressed during a joint press conference with his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama in Albania’s capital, Tirana.
The European Union opened accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia last month, following the abolishment of the veto on Skopje, thus opening the path to Albania’s joining in the EU.
The initiation of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia was considered a historic moment by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a joint news conference held with the Czech Republic’s Prime Minister Petr Fiala as well as the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, and North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski.
Von der Leyen applauded the recent changes applied by authorities in both Balkan countries, such as the rule of law and the anti-corruption reforms demonstrated by both countries, considering it a success of their countries’ authorities and people.
“The governments of Albania and North Macedonia did not implement the reforms just for European Union accession, but because they are good for your countries and are already delivering a better quality of life for your people,” she stressed, as reported by Anadolu Agency.
North Macedonia became an European Union candidate in 2005, while Albania in 2014, but since 2020, North Macedonia’s path to EU Membership negotiations has been blocked by Bulgarian authorities amid controversies regarding historic and linguistic matters.
The Prime Minister of Czechia, Petr Fiala, said that the European Union would be stronger from the inclusion of North Macedonia and Albania and within it.
“On behalf of the Czech Presidency, the European Union Council congratulates North Macedonia and Albania on this milestone. We will be stronger from your choice that has already been tested many times,” Czechia’s Prime Minister emphasized.
Previously, the European Union Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelvi, stressed that Bulgaria lifted its veto on North Macedonia, thus paving the way for both Albania and North Macedonia to open EU Membership negotiations.
In this regard, the Former Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borisov, called on Prime Minister Kiril Petkov not to hide but to submit to Parliament a proposal to lift the veto on Northern Macedonia.