European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Tirana on Wednesday, beginning her tour of the Western Balkans with a focus on Albania’s EU accession process, reforms and the next steps toward membership.
During her visit, von der Leyen met President Bajram Begaj before holding talks with Prime Minister Edi Rama. At a joint press conference, she welcomed Albania’s progress in the accession process but stressed that reforms must be fully implemented, not only adopted.
Von der Leyen highlighted the importance of judicial reform, the electoral framework and environmental policies, while also calling for continued dialogue with society.
She said the European Commission is working on a more structured roadmap for countries advancing toward EU membership, including Albania, with priorities, indicative deadlines and benchmarks for progress.
Rama reiterated Albania’s commitment to advancing the negotiations and said the government aims to complete the negotiating process by 2027. He also highlighted the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the need to address the issue of unanimity in EU decision-making.
Von der Leyen’s visit coincided with another anti-government protest outside the Prime Minister’s Office. A group of citizens and activists held their 123rd consecutive day of demonstrations, demanding Rama’s resignation.
Protesters called on von der Leyen to hear their concerns, while police maintained a security cordon around the government building. The demonstrations have continued for more than four months.
After Tirana, von der Leyen is scheduled to travel to Kosovo and Montenegro on October 1, followed by North Macedonia on October 2. Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are not included in the current tour, with the European Commission citing upcoming elections.
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