Remarks by President Donald Tusk after his meeting with Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama
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Good afternoon and let me warmly welcome my good friend, Prime Minister Edi Rama, in Brussels.
I am happy that the context in which we are meeting is both positive and promising. It is only a few weeks ago that the Council decided to set out the path towards opening accession talks with Albania in June 2019. And the Commission has already started the preparatory work. A decision that has been unanimously endorsed by all EU heads of state and government.
This progress would not have been possible without your country’s delivering steady and irreversible progress in reforms. And without your personal engagement and positive energy, thank you very much Edi, great job. I have no doubt that if Albania keeps up the reform momentum, it will be able to deliver the necessary results by next June. Because Albania’s place is in the EU, and Albania will become a member of the EU. There is no doubt about this.
It is my hope and my wish that all pro-Western political forces in Albania will work towards the same goal.
Your efforts to settle remaining differences with Greece are the best proof of Albania’s commitment to the EU and good neighbourly relations.
Finally, let me recall that Albania remains a good partner and a friend of the European Union. On security and migration, we have a strong and well-established cooperation. Today, we also discussed and agreed the need to step up efforts to end the new route for illegal migration through Albania. Thank you.