European Commissioner for EU Enlargement Oliver Varhei expressed today the hope that the accession negotiations with Albania will be completed in the next five years. According to him, this is possible because of Albania's determination to undertake the necessary reforms. Negotiations with Tirana started in Luxembourg today, BTA reported.
We feel very encouraged, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said. For us, the EU is the only place where we should be and where our next generations will develop. Thanks to (Russian President) Vladimir Putin and his military offensive against Ukraine, even the most skeptical saw that the Western Balkans were necessary for a strong EU, he added.
Our will is very clear and we have no doubt that we will achieve what we aim for. The EU can sometimes be dishonest, including with countries applying for accession, Rama commented. He promised to fight corruption in his country at all levels, protect human rights and personal freedoms.
Applicant countries from the Western Balkans wait over 15 years on average to join the EU, we need to speed up the procedures, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó urged. For us, the expansion of the EU to the countries of the Western Balkans is a top priority, added the minister, whose country presides over the Council of the EU until the end of the year.