TIRANA – The foreign ministers of the EU member states reached a unanimous political agreement on the launch of the accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, according to Olivér Várhelyi, the European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, who announced the decision after a video-conference of the General Affairs Council on Tuesday.
The news was made public by Olivér Várhelyi, the European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, after a video-conference of the General Affairs Council. The EU has changed rules for meeting since the coronavirus outbreak.
“I am very pleased that EU member states today reached political agreement on opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia. I wholeheartedly congratulate both countries. This also sends a loud and clear message to Western Balkans: your future is in EU,” said Mr. Várhelyi in his Twitter account.
It was quick the reaction of the EU Ambassador to Tirana, Luigi Soreca who greeted the opening of accession negotiations with Albania considering the event as a historical day for this Balkan country.
“Today is a historical day for Albania. The EU Member States have taken the unanimous decision to open accession negotiations. I wish to congratulate Albania for the big step made towards becoming an EU member,” Mr. Soreca said as quoted on Tuesday by a press statement released by the press office of the EU Delegation in Tirana. “What changes from today is that Albania has a new status vis-a-vis the European Union. From now on, a new set of rules will apply that will help the Albanian people, as soon as possible, to join back the family where they belong,” he said.
Further on Brussels’s top envoy to Tirana noted that the new methodology presented by the Commission and the sustainable progress made by Albania in the last months have been critical in taking today’s decision. “I want to stress especially the spirit of compromise and unity shown by all political sides on the electoral reform.”
The EU Ambassador puts the question: “What are the next steps now?” His answer is as following: “The Member States have given a mandate to the Commission to start preparing the rules of the game, the so-called negotiating framework. The Member States have also asked Albania to take the final measures in some key areas in order to convene the first Inter-Governmental Conference as soon as possible.”
Mr. Soreca said it is essential now for the country to come together and deliver those measures, and according to him, it will be primarily up to the government to take action and immediately prepare a structured action plan for the next months. “But this work is a whole society effort that will need the cooperation of all Institutions, the opposition and the civil society.”
The Ambassador pointed out that the months have been very challenging for the Albanian people and he mentioned the earthquake of the 26th of November which hit hard and the current Covid- 19 crisis is shaking the country. “But you have reacted, you are reacting with sacrifice, courage and commitment,” he said.
In conclusion the EU Ambassador said: “Even in these difficult moments you looked ahead and showed your determination to continue on the EU path. 97% of you made this clear early this year. Your message has been heard in the EU and by the Member States, who have shown their solidarity at the Brussels Donors Conference last month. The EU will continue to stand by you, as always, with our political, financial and technical support to help the Albanian people fulfill their dream of becoming EU citizens. Today, we are one huge step closer to this common objective.”/argmentum.al
