European Parliament President David Sassoli expressed his support for the opening of EU accession talks with Albania.
In a joint press conference after their meeting with Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama, Sassoli stated:
“There was a slowdown before the end of the year, but the membership process has to start. The European Parliament, European Commission and many member states are convinced.
I am sure that this is only a delay that it is being filled by major government initiatives, such as the fight against organized crime.”
He underlined the need for the government to persuade countries that vetoed the opening of EU accession talks with Albania before the next EU summit.
President Sassoli also held a speech in the Albanian Parliament, where he praised the Rama government for the recently approved controversial legal changes that they claim are necessary to fight organized crime and corruption, as well as for the agreement with the opposition on the electoral reform.
“I hope we can open negotiations in March or June 2020 at the latest. There is no Plan B for Albania. I reiterated it while addressing the Albanian Parliament today: We will continue the journey that you embarked upon a long time ago together,” Sassoli tweeted after his speech in Parliament.
Sassoli is in a 2-day visit in Albania, where he will meet with the highest officials in the country to discuss the opening of EU accession talks with Albania, and the Donors’ Conference for the Albanian earthquake.
