Gent Cakaj, the Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs met with Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz, Latvia Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Antanas Linkevicius and Undersecretary of State for European Affairs and the Estonian Foreign Minister Mart Volmer today.
Topics on the agenda included issues related to Albania’s European Integration process and those in attendance gave their support to the immediate start of accession talks. The foreign ministers had visited North Macedonia earlier this week.
A press release published shortly after confirmed their “determined and unequivocal support for thee European aspirations of the Western Balkan states, and the firm merit-based prospect of their full European Union membership.”
They added that they hope the European Council will agree this month to start accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia and that such a decision is needed to reaffirm the commitment and credibility of the EU enlargement policy.
The foreign ministers also highlighted how important they felt the integration of both countries was for strategic and political objectives of the EU.
“As representatives of countries who have joined themselves the European Union 16 years ago, we share the common belief that the EU enlargement policy contributes to the stability, security and prosperity both in the Western Balkan region and Europe as a whole. The European integration of the Western Balkan countries should thus remain a strategic political objective for the EU.”
They did, however, note that the speed of the accession negotiations should be determined by each country’s progress in their respective reforms, as well as adherence to EU values and the Common Foreign and Security Policy alignment.
