BRUSSELS (ANP) – “We must continue with enlargement to ensure a stronger and safer EU. This is why enlargement is a key priority for the Danish EU presidency,” stated the minister during a press conference after new accession discussions with Albania.
Albania aims to finalize its EU accession negotiations by 2027. To join the EU, a candidate country must fulfill numerous requirements across various sectors, including democracy, an independent judiciary, financial stability, and freedom of expression. Albania is undertaking significant reforms in these areas and has been engaged in this process for some time.
“The pace of Albania’s progress is truly remarkable,” remarked Commissioner Marta Kos (Enlargement).
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama acknowledges that there is still much work ahead, but Albania is determined to join the EU. “For the first time in history, we finally have the freedom to choose who we want to marry,” he stated, referencing the country’s tumultuous past marked by oppression from various empires, including the Ottoman Empire. After World War II, Albania was governed by the communist dictator Enver Hoxha.
The EU represents “a community we desire to be part of, a community of rights and security, where our citizens can be assured that their freedoms and rights will not be compromised,” Rama expressed.
Other Balkan nations are also seeking EU membership, as the EU aims to integrate them to mitigate the risk of falling under Russian influence.
(September 17, 2025)
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