Albania today opened negotiations with the European Union on Chapter 6, “External Relations,” marking another important step in the country’s integration process. The third intergovernmental conference, held in Brussels, witnessed the participation of Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, who commended Albania’s progress and highlighted the accelerated pace of negotiations under Hungary’s presidency.
In his statement, Minister Szijjártó emphasized that the integration process had seen remarkable acceleration, particularly in the past few months. “I can say that we have achieved significant growth for both us and the Schengen area, with two additional countries,” Szijjártó noted. “We have been waiting for this process for nearly 50 years, and we owe these countries our respect.”
The Hungarian Minister further explained the shift in dynamics over the last 15 years, noting that progress had been slow until recently. “For the past 15 years, we have not seen the necessary steps for development,” he said, referring to the previously slow pace of EU integration. “But in 2022, negotiations officially began, and now, under Hungary’s presidency, we’ve already seen the opening of two chapters, a pace never seen before.”
Praising Albania’s efforts, Szijjártó remarked that the country had shown exceptional progress on the six chapters that are part of the negotiation framework. “We are opening this chapter today to help Albania move forward,” he stated. “Albania is already a NATO member, and it was three years ago that we first opened chapters with Albania. It is in our mutual interest that this country moves ahead as it is essential for the stability of the Western Balkans.”
Hungarian companies are actively engaged in the Albanian market, further strengthening the ties between the two nations, Szijjártó concluded.
