At a summit held in Skopje, attended by the leaders of the six Western Balkan countries, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos reiterated the European Union’s commitment to supporting the region’s development through the Growth Plan, emphasizing that the initiative is citizen-centered and aimed at improving living standards.
Kos noted that significant progress has been made and praised Albania for opening three negotiating clusters in the last six months. She gave special recognition to Prime Minister Edi Rama for his role and contribution.
She emphasized that if Albania continues its current momentum, all remaining clusters could be opened within this year. According to her, the enlargement process aims at gradual integration, and that “a united Europe cannot exist without the inclusion of the Western Balkans.”
In response, Prime Minister Rama highlighted Albania’s steady progress in meeting the EU membership criteria, declaring that the country is closer than ever to realizing its centuries-old aspiration to join the European Union.
“We are very proud, because so far we have fulfilled all the implementation points and continue working on the others according to the schedule. We have never been closer to realizing this multi-century aspiration. The Growth Plan is very clear: we must fulfill our tasks, as must they. This is an additional instrument aligned with what is called gradual integration — and it is happening. Albania is performing very well,” Rama told the media.
