Albania: VdL vows to speed up EU accession process for Tirana

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to hold the first intergovernmental conference for Albania and North Macedonia to start EU accession talks with the West Balkan country by the end of the year, speaking in a joint press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana, Tuesday.

“Albania has clearly delivered all that we have been asking for,” von der Leyen said. “And now it is us who have to deliver.”

Albania’s PM Rama criticised the slow process, saying that Albania’s situation is ‘absurd’. According to the PM, their negotiations are put on hold due to Bulgaria blocking talks with North Macedonia over a bilateral dispute.

Von der Leyen also spoke on the financial pre-accession funds the EU is mobilizing to help the Western Balkan catch up with the rest of the EU. The Union offered 9 billion euros (10.5billion USD) for projects and aims to raise up to 20 billion euros (23.5 billion USD) in investments, with 500 million euros already been made available and an additional 600 million planned for the rest of the year.

Von der Leyen is currently on a regional tour that will end with an EU-Western Balkans summit on Oct. 6.

SOT, Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President: “In the European Union we’re friends and partners and as you said, Edi, we want to have this work together. The European Commission and me myself, we stand firmly behind the commitment. Albania has clearly delivered all that we have been asking for. And I know you’ve come a long way. It was a difficult process and you have put an enormous effort in it, you were successful, you are successful. So I really commend you on that. And now it is us who have to deliver. We’re starting the first intergovernmental conference. I am aware of that. So we’re working hard on our side. And I think we owe it to all these young people who believe in a European future, who see themselves as Europeans in their lives.”

SOT, Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President: “Albania belongs in the European Union. And there is no question about it. I fully support moving forward in the accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia as soon as possible. You have described the difficulties but trust me, I am really determined to make it happen that we have our first intergovernmental conference, so that we can start the accession talks. You know that the two of us have been discussing that, we’re working hard on it. And you can rely on me, I really want to bring this process forward so that we can start before the end of the year.”

SOT, Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President: “On the pandemic topic: I want to congratulate you that Albania has recently joined the EU covid certificate, the platform. This is good news. Because it will of course facilitate safe travel between the European Union and Albania. So when you’re fully vaccinated with an MA approved vaccine the only thing you need is the QR code and no restrictions, travel is free to both sides, that is a big step forward.” *NO CUTAWAY AT SOURCE*

SOT, Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President: “We’ve put 9 billion euros (10.5 billion USD) on the table. And important for us, and that works very well, that you design, you propose the quality, the mature projects that are needed, so that together we can leverage up to 20 billion euros (23.5 billion USD) in investment. That is our goal, we’ve started already this year. This year the plan has already made available 500 million euros and I am really pleased to announce that we will propose an additional 600 million euros still for this year. So let’s make this plan a success, a joint success with the right projects.”

SOT, Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President: “The current rising tensions between Kosovo and Serbia is very concerning, is worrying. It is essential to lower the tension and to return to the dialogue. I mean the European Union too was built on dialogue initially. And it was built initially on economic development. And this lead to understanding of both sides, this led to healing wounds and this led finally to reconciliation. This is a long process and this is a process that leads to a peaceful and thriving future. This is what we want to achieve.”

#Albania #VDL #Tirana #EU

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