TIRANA, May 31 – “I express my gratitude to the Bundestag for its contribution to supporting economic development reforms, advancing and deepening democratization and integration reforms, in particular justice reform, as well as monitoring with German experts the Vetting process in Albania.”
This is what Speaker Lindita Nikolla said as quoted by a statement of the Assembly in a meeting with Bundestag President Bärbel Bas during an official visit to Germany on Tuesday.
President Bas and Speaker Nikolla discussed the progress of bilateral and parliamentary cooperation, the process of integration of Albania and the Western Balkans into the European Union, regional cooperation and the impact of the war in Ukraine on the Western Balkans.
After thanking President Bas for the very warm and friendly reception, Nikolla underlined that Albania and Germany have an excellent political cooperation. Such is the intensive cooperation between the Assembly and the Bundestag.
“We highly appreciate Germany’s commitment and support to our path to the EU, as a strong promoter and supporter of the opening of membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. We are convinced that this support will continue for the holding of the First Intergovernmental Conference within the French Presidency of the EU,” said Nikolla.
“Joining the European family is a popular desire. It is important that the EU and the countries of the Western Balkans cooperate,” she said.
Speaking of the initiative “Open Balkans” as a cooperation project between the three countries of the region, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia, Nikolla said it aims to implement as soon as possible the four fundamental freedoms of the EU and to complement cooperation between these countries in the framework of regional initiatives.
Focusing on Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, Speaker Nikolla noted that Albania supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
/Argumentum.al
